𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐓𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜, 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬?

These days, words like narcissist, toxic, gaslighting, and depression are thrown around casually in everyday conversations. While mental health awareness is a positive shift, the overuse and misuse of these clinical terms can do more harm than good.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

**If someone lies or acts selfishly, they’re instantly branded a narcissist—but true Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a complex, diagnosed condition, not just bad behaviour.

**A parent setting boundaries becomes toxic, even if their rules are reasonable. Not every strict rule is emotional abuse.

**A partner disagreeing isn’t always gaslighting—a term that specifically refers to manipulative mind games, not just arguments.

**Feeling sad after a bad day isn’t depression—a serious mental health condition requiring diagnosis and treatment.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?

It trivialises real struggles. When clinical terms become buzzwords, they lose their weight, making it harder for people with actual disorders to be taken seriously.

It encourages armchair diagnoses. Labelling others without professional insight can damage relationships and spread misinformation.

It stops meaningful conversations. Instead of discussing issues constructively, we slap on a buzzword and shut down dialogue.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗼?

Be precise with language. Not every conflict is toxic, not every liar is a narcissist, and not every low mood is depression.

Educate before labelling. Understand what these terms actually mean before using them.

Encourage nuance. Human behaviour is complex—reducing it to buzzwords oversimplifies real issues.

Words have power. Let’s use them wisely.