Of trauma and other bonds

Therapyspeak, or the casual and incorrect use of psychology terms, has turned real issues into buzzwords

- Shephali Bhatt

At a recent gathering, someone said they had "trauma bonded" with another person over the challenges of working in similar roles—not an accurate use of the word. In casual conversations, trauma bonding is often used to describe forming a close relationship with someone who has experienced similar problems. However, in psychological terms, trauma bonding refers to a connection that forms between an individual and their abuser due to a cycle of abuse interspersed with moments of kindness and affection. This emotional confusion makes it difficult for the victim to leave the relationship.

The rise of therapyspeak—using psychology jargon in everyday conversation—has reduced complex concepts to oversimplified buzzwords, fueling their widespread misuse. This trend not only trivializes serious mental health issues but also gives people the license to use terms like "bipolar," "schizo," and "retard" to label others callously.