Mental health awareness has grown exponentially in recent years and that’s a positive thing. More people are talking about emotions, relationships, and psychological well-being than ever before. But with increased visibility comes a concerning trend: psychological terms such as bipolar, depression, trauma, narcissist, toxic, gaslighting, love bombing, attachment style, boundaries, closure, activated, triggers, father trauma, and parent blocking are being used casually, inaccurately, and often defensively.

These words, grounded in decades of clinical research and practice, are increasingly misused to label, diagnose, excuse behavior, or avoid accountability. In doing so, they can unintentionally promote victimhood over agency, shifting mental health away from growth, responsibility, and self-awareness.

Buzzwords vs. Clinical Reality

Bipolar

A serious mood disorder involving episodes of mania or hypomania and depression. Saying “I’m bipolar about my decisions” trivializes a legitimate diagnosis and undermines those living with the condition.

Depression

More than sadness or disappointment, depression involves persistent low mood, cognitive changes, and functional impairment. Labeling every low moment as depression can prevent individuals from developing resilience and emotional coping skills.

Trauma

Trauma is not synonymous with discomfort. It refers to experiences that overwhelm the nervous system and disrupt emotional processing. Over-pathologizing everyday stress as trauma can halt personal reflection and emotional growth.

Attachment Style

Attachment theory explains relational patterns not permanent identities. Saying “I’m avoidant, that’s just how I am” turns insight into a limitation rather than a pathway for growth.

Narcissist

Clinical narcissistic personality disorder is rare. Using “narcissist” to describe anyone who disappoints us oversimplifies human behavior and shuts down accountability on both sides.

Gaslighting & Love Bombing

These are serious relational dynamics rooted in manipulation and control. Overusing them to describe ordinary conflict, inconsistency, or emotional intensity weakens their meaning and can distort relational responsibility.

Toxic, Father Trauma, Parent Blocking

While some family relationships are genuinely harmful, these terms are often applied without nuance. Labels can replace reflection, preventing healthy boundary-setting, communication, and emotional differentiation.

Activated & Triggers

Being “triggered” or “activated” is not a free pass for reactive behavior. These terms describe internal responses not justifications for harm or avoidance.

Boundaries & Closure

Boundaries are tools, not walls. Closure is an internal process, not something owed by another person. Neither removes the responsibility to reflect, repair, or grow.

The Danger of Misused Language

When psychological terms are misapplied:

Reclaiming Mental Health Language

Instead of saying:

“I can’t forgive them because they’re toxic.”

We might say:

“That relationship hurt me. I’m choosing boundaries while reflecting on my own patterns and responses.”

A Call to Mindful Awareness

Closing Thought

Words have weight. How we use them matters.
Mental health isn’t a buzzword it’s a lifelong commitment to awareness, accountability, and transformation.

Let’s choose language that elevates, not excuses.