I am SICK of therapy-esque terms being thrown around incorrectly.

The ones I see the most and irritate me the most:

Gaslighting

Actual definition: Gaslighting is an insidious form of manipulation and psychological control. Victims of gaslighting are deliberately and systematically fed false information that leads them to question what they know to be true, often about themselves. They may end up doubting their memory, their perception, and even their sanity. Over time, a gaslighter’s manipulations can grow more complex and potent, making it increasingly difficult for the victim to see the truth. (source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/gaslighting)

Definition according to the general public seems to use it: basic lying, being a jerk, being self-centered, having different perspectives on a situation and disagreeing about it

That’s not what it is. It is a very specific type of lying that goes way beyond basic “he wasn’t where he said he was” kind of lies with a very specific intent behind it.

(Side note: the 1944 film Gaslight is an incredible film and should be required viewing for anyone who wants to be in a relationship. It’s also literally where the term “gaslighting” came from.)

Trauma-dumping

Actual definition: involves sharing detailed accounts of severe emotional trauma without warning or consent, creating an uncomfortable and potentially distressing situation for the listener, disregarding the listener’s emotional capacity. This form of sharing is one-sided and places the entire emotional burden on the listener, who may not be prepared to handle such intense information. Key signs of trauma-dumping include unsolicited sharing, oversharing, and emotional disregard. (source: https://www.integrative-psych.org/resources/understanding-trauma-dumping-navigating-emotional-boundaries)

Definition according to the general public seems to use it: venting, talking about negative feelings or negative experiences of any kind with literally anyone but a therapist/mental health professional

And don’t get me started on the words “trauma” and “traumatic” themselves. Yes, something not traumatic for me might be extremely traumatic for someone else, and I get that, but your mom getting you the wrong cake for your fourth birthday is not fucking “traumatic” unless it was literally made with the blood of your puppy and topped with its fur or something like that.

There are so many more, but these are the ones that drive me absolutely up the wall. Words have meaning. Words have power. Consistent misuse and overuse of these words cause them to lost their meaning and significance over time (i.e. trauma). If we are going to use these very powerful words, I just wish we would use them correctly and responsibly.