There are some therapy terms that have become engrained into daily life, but are we using them in correctly? Most likely no. It seems like a lot of times there words are weaponized and used to avoid certain conversations or topics, and used improperly.
HuffPost spoke to therapists to find out which words are the most misused and here is what they found:
Gaslighting: This is the most commonly misused term & is often slapped on people who disagree with them.
Actually: it's a "manipulation tactic, often seen in abusive relationship dynamics, in which one person gradually makes the other question their own judgment, memories, emotions and reality in order to maintain the upper hand in the relationship."
Triggered: This is often used as a tactic to end a conversation.
Actually: Clinical psychologist Zainab Delawalla explained to HuffPost that a trigger “sets off a strong emotional reaction, often related to past trauma or distressing experiences.” She explained, that quote, “a trigger can take someone out of the present moment and transport their mind to the past, leading them to reexperience the trauma and its aftermath."
Trauma: often used to "to describe any difficult or challenging situation" according to Delawalla.
Actually: "trauma refers to deeply distressing or disturbing experiences that overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, often involving harm or a threat of harm to ‘life or limb,’” Delawalla said. “It can lead to long-lasting emotional, psychological and physical effects.”
See the FULL LIST HERE
Source: HuffPost