Words like gas lighting, narcissist, trauma, and toxic are commonly used today in social media reels, videos and posts. But many times, we use these words in everyday situations without really understanding their true meaning.
As a result, there is a danger of trivializing serious psychological experiences and problems.
For example, take the word gas lighting. Real gas lighting is a situation where one person makes another person question their awareness, memory or sense of reality and subjects them to continuous mental abuse. But today it is often used in the sense of “He didn’t cooperate,” or “He ignored my opinion,” and this is then labelled as gas lighting. In reality, gas lighting is a dangerous form of psychological control. It is not a one-time act; it is a pattern that repeats again and again.
Narcissist is another such word. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a clinical psychological condition; it is part of a medical diagnosis. People with this condition have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, lack empathy and have a tendency to use others for their own benefit. But in current usage, anyone who loves themselves, is confident, or even someone who posts selfies on social media is casually called a narcissist. Confidence, self-love and self-worth are not narcissism; they are signs of a healthy mental state.
The word trauma is also widely misused. Real trauma is a deep psychological wound. It is a condition in which experiences such as accidents, abuse, loss, or violence leave lasting scars on the mind. But now even small discomforts are described as “I was traumatized.” This trivializes the pain of people who actually experience trauma.
Toxic is another word. What must be understood is that not every disagreement is ‘toxic.’ A truly toxic relationship is one where a person mentally controls, insults or devalues another. Calling a person toxic just because they make a mistake or have a differing opinion reduces the seriousness of the actual issue.
It is natural for psychological terms to enter everyday language. They help us express our emotions clearly. But they must be used without losing their true meaning. Calling someone a gas lighter, narcissist or toxic is not that simple.
These are medical terms, backed by deep psychological study and clinical diagnosis. When psychological terms are used correctly, they help us understand emotions, recognize genuine abuse and seek support when needed. But when they are misused, they trivialize others’ pain and weaken society’s psychological awareness.
Therefore, the next time you say “He is gas lighting” or “She is a narcissist,” it is worth thinking twice:
Am I using the word in its true sense?
