Podcast Wednesday 4/1/2020
April 1, 2020

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.

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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.

 

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Hi Everyone and Happy Wednesday! 

This is installment #2 — Podcast Wednesday — as promised last week in the blog and newsletter*. Every Wednesday I’m sharing a podcast with a great conversation/message/perspective for this pandemic time we’re in. (Monday is poetry and Friday is a book recommendation.) 

On Being with Krista Tippet. Episode 817, Falling Together with Rebecca Solnit. 

On Being is an organization that pursues “deep thinking and moral imagination, social courage and joy, to renew inner life, outer life, and life together.” Check out their website. www.onbeing.org

In this episode, host Tippet has a conversation with the great Rebecca Solnit. Solnit is a writer, historian, activist and (IMO) maverick thinker about our culture and our world. This interview took place in May 2016 but she could be talking about today and COVID-19.

Talking about disasters such as the 1989 San Francisco earthquake and Hurricane Katrina, Solnit says that when the world as we know it falls apart, people step up. Unlike the mythology promoted in popular culture — that in disasters, people’s worst, selfish, murderous selves emerge — what history tells us is that we actually find purpose, connection, and even joy in the middle of chaos, loss and fear. We tap into a collective life. And we find there, deeply in the present moment:  hope. Hope as a spiritual concept, the unknown, the present moment, where something new can — and often does — emerge. Unexpected things will happen. Hope as life’s surprises.

Favorite quote from the interview:

 “What if everything we’ve been told about human nature is wrong, and we’re actually very generous communitarian altruistic beings who are distorted by the system we’re in — but not made happy by it? What if we can actually BE better people in a better world?” 

I hope you enjoy it, and find it as grounding and hopeful as I did. 

Be well. Wash your hands. Stay connected. 

Lisa 

Author

Lisa Wolcott

Lisa founded Wolcott Counseling & Wellness, LLC to offer the best mental wellness care in North Central Florida and beyond. Licensed in FL and CA, she’s also a clinical supervisor for Master level social workers in Florida. Lisa is a Certified Group Therapist (CGP) through the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator through The Daring Way™ an empirically based training and certification program for helping professionals, based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. She is also a Gottman Level 1 certified couple’s therapy provider. Lisa has a passion for working with clients affected by intimate partner violence.