In recent years, therapeutic terms like “manipulation,” “gaslighting,” and various diagnostic labels have become part of everyday conversation. While raising awareness about mental health is important, the casual misuse of these terms can dilute their meaning and, more worryingly, endanger others.
The Problem with Mislabeling
When terms like “narcissist” or “gaslighting” are used loosely, they can lose their clinical significance. For example, calling someone a narcissist because they exhibit selfish behavior ignores the complex criteria required for a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Similarly, labeling disagreements or misunderstandings as “gaslighting” can trivialize the serious psychological abuse the term originally described.
This overuse can harm relationships, stigmatize individuals, and prevent people from getting the professional help they need. When diagnostic terms are thrown around carelessly, those truly suffering from mental health issues may feel invalidated or misunderstood. It can also lead to false accusations, damaging trust and communication between people.
How It Endangers Others
Misusing these terms doesn’t just dilute their meaning; it can also endanger others. For example, accusing someone of being manipulative or gaslighting without fully understanding the context can escalate conflicts and create unnecessary hostility. This can result in serious social consequences, from strained relationships to workplace discrimination.
Additionally, the use of terms based in incorrect information can lead to mismanagement of mental health concerns. It is important that the meaning behind words continue to carry their weight and effectively communicate the severity of an experience or situation. This dilution or twisting of terms can prevent someone from accessing the appropriate treatment or support they need.
A Call for Caution and Compassion
As therapists, we advocate for increased awareness and understanding of mental health. Instead of jumping to conclusions or labeling behaviors with clinical terms, let’s promote open, honest communication and encourage people to seek professional guidance when they’re struggling.
By being mindful of our language, we can help preserve the integrity of these important concepts and protect the mental health and well-being of ourselves and others.
_____________
For readers seeking more information or guidance on mental health topics, consider scheduling an appointment with one of our therapists who can provide professional insight tailored to your individual needs. You can book an appointment by calling (352) 363- 1998.
Misusing clinical terms doesn’t just dilute their meaning; it can also endanger others. For example, accusing someone of being manipulative or gaslighting without fully understanding the context can escalate conflicts and create unnecessary hostility. This can result in serious social consequences, from strained relationships to workplace discrimination.
It’s Child Abuse Awareness Month. No one likes to think about child abuse. So we’re largely silent about it. Which creates a perfect condition for child abuse to thrive and proliferate. Because abuse of all kinds thrives in silence and darkness. And the cost...
We store our experiences not only in our minds, but also within our bodies. Traumatic events can imprint themselves on our physical sensations, leading to lingering effects that impact our physical and mental well-being. Addressing these deep-seated traumas requires a...
In Florida, mental health counselors can be Graduate Interns, Registered Interns (RMHCI or RCSWI), or fully Licensed (LMHC, LMFT or LCSW). Are you confused by all these letters and titles? How do you know what to look for in a...
What is OCD? Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by experiencing cycles of unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that can cause a significant amount of distress for an individual (International OCD Foundation,...
October is "Domestic Violence" Awareness Month. I put "domestic violence" in quotation marks because that's an outdated term that emphasizes the physical violence, and misleads us to think it's only happening in domesticity -- such as in a marriage. There's a better...
This post was originally published on March 2, 2014. Thousands of comments later, I'm still getting emails and calls about it weekly. Given the interest in sociopathy in the news today, I decided to re-publish it here.Ted Bundy. Jeffrey Dahlmer. Danny Rolling. Jim...
Some thoughts on the last few weeks. I’ll make the writing short and the recommendations long for further learning, because my thoughts aren't needed here; we need to listen to the voices of people of color. Trauma needs a witness, and I witness with my feelings...
“Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to get through this thing called Life.” — Prince I’m shifting gears from the 3-a-week blogs on poems/pods/books. I’ll keep sharing what I’m leaning into going forward….just not in this same 3x/week form. ...
I think I should rename this regular Friday post: Memoir Recommendation Friday. Here’s another one: More Myself: A Journey, by Alicia Keys. Singer and songwriter Alicia Keys takes us through her life from childhood...
Eating disorders affect more than 30 million people in the United States; millions more have disordered eating or related issues. From emotional eating, to body image issues, to orthorexia (a fixation on “clean” eating), to diagnosed Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, or ARFID (Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), we are a nation with a very problematic relationship to food, self-love, appetite, emotional and physical nourishment and self-esteem.
Why is it such a problem? One thought is our society’s persistent bias toward thinness, and methods to achieve thinness, are so accepted. Scroll through any social media or pick up any publication and you will likely see “ideal” and often photoshopped bodies represented alongside diets, fasts, and other behaviors that promote disordered eating.
Why do we have such perfectionism aimed at our bodies? The answer is complicated, but I believe it has much to do with finding a place to enact control — to counteract shame when we feel a loss of control — both personally and on a societal level. Perfectionism and shame go together.
Women account for over two-thirds of eating disorders; men are affected in large numbers as well, and those numbers are growing. It starts early and moves through the life cycle — 42% of 1st through 4th grade girls want to be thinner. ARFID is thought to affect 3% to 5% of all children. Approximately 10% of all college age women have a diagnosable eating disorder. And 13% of women over the age of 50 engage in eating disordered behavior. Concurrently, nearly 30% of people with binge and purge behaviors also engage in cutting or other self-harm behaviors.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder, yet only 1 in 10 seek out treatment. Every 60 seconds, an individual dies as a direct result of an eating disorder.
There is help for eating disorders.
• Educate yourself. The National Eating Disorders Association, or NEDA, has a wealth of information, here.
• Screen Yourself. Here’s a screening tool to determine if you have an eating disorder. (T/W – many screening tools do require you to put in your height and weight to assist in assessing).
• Check yourself. Develop a critical eye toward what our culture is selling you. Remind yourself that media is in large part designed to sell products, and a following or readership with low self esteem is highly motivated to buy diet related products.
• Become Shame Aware. Much of disordered eating is rooted in shame and it’s twin, perfectionism. Watch this TED talk by Brené Brown which speaks to shame, perfectionism and vulnerability. Also, I highly recommend her books, especially The Gifts Of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, and Rising Strong. You can find a mental health specialist trained in her methodology (I’m one of them!) here.
• Read books on eating disorders. I recommend Geneen Roth’s books, especially Feeding The Hungry Heart, When Food Is Love, and Women Food and God. Another great book is Life Without Ed by Jenni Schaffer and Thom Rutledge. For families and friends, I recommend Surviving An Eating Disorder by Siegel, Brisman and Weinshel.
• 12-Step, Overeaters Anonymous. Contrary to the name, OA is not just for people concerned with overeating; it’s also for anorexia, bulimia, food addiction, or any type of eating problem. 12-step programs are a great tool and wonderful companion to therapy.
• Nutritional Counseling with a nutritionist or other medically trained person who is educated, aware, and sensitive to the psychological aspects of eating disorders and disordered eating. Not all helpers are! Ask for recommendations, ask for what you need, and trust your gut. That goes for mental health and wellness counselors as well:
• Counseling/Therapy with a therapist skilled in and sensitive to dynamics around body shame, body image, control, disordered eating, and eating disorders. Again, ask for recommendations for someone skilled, interview more than one therapist, and trust your gut. One powerful modality for working with an eating disorder is Internal Family Systems work. You can find an IFS-trained therapist here.
If you are currently struggling with disordered eating, please don’t delay in getting help. If you feel you are in a crisis, please reach out to one of these hotlines in this link (not just for bulimia, despite the words in the link). If you don’t want to talk, you can use the text crisis line, which is here and here: Text CONNECT to 741741.
