7 Overused and Misused Psychology Terms – And What They Actually Mean
At Oak Health Foundation, we’re committed to promoting awareness of modern-day issues in psychology and mental health. We’re encouraged to see more people discussing these important topics — both on social media and in everyday conversation. However, as clinical language makes its way into the mainstream, many terms borrowed from therapy are being used in ways that don’t always match their true definitions.
Most of us have heard (or said) things like, “I’m so OCD about this,” “That movie traumatized me,” or “I’m so triggered.” These phrases have become casual shorthand for preferences, discomfort, or routine frustrations — far removed from their clinical meanings.
But psychological terms carry specific definitions grounded in diagnostic criteria. When we blur or dilute those meanings, we risk minimizing real mental health conditions and creating confusion rather than clarity.
With that in mind, let’s break down some of the most commonly misused psychology terms — and what they actually mean.
#1: “OCD” (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
Oftentimes, people casually throw around the term “OCD” to describe their strict preferences about cleanliness or having things done a certain way:
How it’s misused
– “I’m so OCD about my desk being clean.”
– “I organize my apps by color—I’m totally OCD.”
– “My closet is color-coordinated, sorry I’m so OCD.”
What it actually means
It is important to remember that OCD is a serious disorder, not a personality quirk or love of tidiness. It involves:
– Obsessions: intrusive, unwanted, distressing thoughts
– Compulsions: repetitive behaviors or mental rituals performed to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions
Most people with OCD do not enjoy their compulsions let alone feel lightly about admitting them. They feel driven to perform them, even when they know they’re irrational. Neatness might be part of someone’s compulsions, but OCD is far more complex (and often debilitating) than perfectionism.
#2: “Triggered”
On social media, we often hear the term “triggered” thrown around to express feeling shocked or offended:
How it’s misused
– “Ugh, what that actor said in his interview triggered me!”
– ”That person’s bad haircut is triggering me!”
What it actually means
A trigger is something that causes a person to relive or re-experience past trauma, often involuntarily. For example, a war veteran can be triggered by a loud bang or fireworks and make them involuntarily “relive” traumatic experiences from war.
Actually being triggered can lead to:
– Panic or dissociation
– Involuntary flashbacks
– Physical symptoms such as cold sweats, shortness of breath
– Intense emotional or physiological responses
Being upset, annoyed, or offended is not the same as being clinically triggered. True triggers are tied to trauma—usually from PTSD—but the casual use of the term has watered down its seriousness.
#3: “Boundaries”
While boundaries are indeed important to protect autonomy, it should not be used to manipulate or control others.
How it’s misused
– ”Don’t call me after 10pm.”
– “You can’t have friends of the opposite gender.”
What it actually means
Instead, boundaries are limits about what you will accept or participate in. They are about YOU and your behavior:
“I won’t stay for conversations that turn hostile.”
It is NOT about controlling others: “You are not allowed to do certain things. Boundaries protect autonomy — they don’t manipulate others.
#4: Narcissist
It may feel cathartic to call an ex, a tough boss, or just someone you don’t like a “narcissist” to describe behaviors you don’t like about them, but let’s clarify what being a narcissist actually means.
It often is said as an insult, to generally describe someone they don’t like.
How it’s misused
– “Did you see that selfie that my ex posted? He’s a total narcissist.”
– ”She only ever thinks and talks about herself. Such a narcissist.”
What it actually means
However, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is actually a rare, clinically diagnosed personality disorder characterized by:
– Grandiosity: exaggerated sense of self importance, power, and uniqueness, often involving an inflated belief in one’s abilities or destiny. This often leads to hostility when someone challenges this view about themselves or lack of accountability when they do something wrong.
– Lack of empathy: reduced ability to understand or care about someone else’s feelings
– Fragile self-esteem: highly sensitive to criticism and easily threatened by the smallest things
– Manipulative or exploitative behavior: employment of charm, threats, silent treatment, playing victim to intentionally control others
– Need for excessive admiration: due to unstable and fragile sense of self-worth, narcissists constantly need admiration, validation and praise; they also meet any little perceived slight or criticism with anger and fury
Someone acting in a selfish manner sometimes does not automatically make them a narcissist – it just means they are human. Neither is someone who has healthy self-confidence a narcissist.
#5: “Bipolar”
This is another word misused to describe someone who may exhibit occasional mood swings, flightiness, or changes in opinion:
How it’s misused
– ”Ugh he decided he didn’t want to go anymore. He’s always so bipolar!”
– ”She’s now sulking in her room. She was fine a minute ago, she’s bipolar.”
What it actually means
Bipolar disorder involves distinct mood episodes, not quick or everyday mood changes. Bipolar Disorder is characterized by periods of mania or hypomania, of intense, elevated mood with increased energy and impulsivity that lasts at least several days – then it all comes crashing down into a mood episode of depression, long-lasting low mood, fatigue and hopelessness. This mood episode can last weeks to even months.
Bipolar disorder is a serious, biologically-influenced mood condition and not indecisiveness or short moments of moodiness. Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental disorder with about one third of those diagnosed with it attempting suicide in their lifetime according to the American Psychiatriy Association.
#6: “Gaslighting”
The term gaslighting has entered the vernacular and become very popular in the last few years. Gaslighting in psychology actually is a form of manipulation when someone intentionally makes another person doubt their reality, memory, or sanity. However nowadays, people may use the term gaslighting simply as a way to express anger or frustration at someone’s mistakes or differing opinions.
How it’s misused
– “He kept arguing with me about [insert issue]. He was gaslighting me the entire time.”
– ”My mother forgot to bring me something even after I told her to. She’s gaslighting me.”
However, real gaslighting has malicious intent and is a concerted effort to make you question your sanity. Someone disagreeing with you or forgetting something you said does not necessarily have malicious intent.
What it actually means:
– intent to deceive or control
– creating confusion in a target’s mind
– denying or distorting actual facts
– undermining someone’s confidence in once’s perception.
Gaslighting is often used by abusers to shift the focus from the abuser’s behavior to the psychological instability of the survivor. It is a power move to ensure the abuser holds onto their power and control over their victim.
#7: “Trauma bonding”
We hear the term “trauma bonding” or “trauma bonded” as a way to describe when two people share experiences of trauma or difficulty which brings them closer together. This is a term that has seen increasing popularity on TikTok and everyday conversation. But the term “trauma bonded” actually means something different.
How it’s misused
– “We’ve been through so much drama — we’re trauma bonded.”
– “We both had the same mean boss at work so we’re trauma bonded.”
What it actually means
Trauma bonding is a specific psychological response in cycles of abuse, where the abused person forms a strong emotional attachment to the abuser due to:
– Intermittent reinforcement cycling between punishment and affection
– Power imbalances where the abuser holds all the power
– Fear paired with affection
Normal ups and downs in a relationship or shared experiences between friends does not describe what is actually a trauma bond.
Why Expanding This Conversation Matters
Language shapes how we understand mental health. When psychological terms become catch-all insults or exaggerations, we are at risk of misinforming ourselves, devaluing real diagnoses, and making it harder for people to articulate genuine distress. Not only this, but complex concepts get turned into memes.
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6 NIV
God calls us to live thoughtfully and speak with grace, using every opportunity to uplift and encourage others. By letting our words be carefully considered with both kindness and wisdom, we can share His comforting message and grace with those we encounter.
The compassionate team of licensed therapists at Fully Health Clinic, sponsored by Oak Health Foundation, is here to walk with you whether you’re supporting a friend or facing your own mental health challenges. Contact us here or at +1 877-553-8559 to schedule a confidential appointment and take the first step toward healing and hope.
If you found our resources useful, please consider donating to Oak Health Foundation, which is a 501(3)c nonprofit dedicated to providing resources regarding holistic mental healthcare and subsidized treatment for those in need.
