Weaponized Self-Care Talk

Increasing mental health awareness can lead to positive outcomes. When more people become aware of mental health issues, it can reduce the long-standing stigmas that have been associated with mental illnesses and self-care.

Unfortunately, it’s common for mental health and self-care terminology to become problematic. Weaponized self-care talk not only furthers negative stigmas, but it also contributes to the widespread misinformation regarding mental illness and self-care.

To counteract the misinformation surrounding mental illness and self-care, let’s take a look at how psychological terms can be weaponized. 

Weaponized Self-Care Talk: Definition, Dangers, and Examples

Weaponized self-care talk, also known as weaponized therapy speak, occurs when someone falsely uses clinical terminology to describe themselves and others. Self-care talk is often weaponized by people to shift blame onto others, rather than taking accountability for their own actions.

Weaponized self-care talk comes from a combination of misinformation from social media and overgeneralizations from personal experiences. Although social media has increased mental health awareness, it has also led to an increase in widespread misinformation and misguided self-diagnoses. 

Read our related article to discover the risks of self-diagnosing mental illnesses.

Dangers of Weaponized Self-Care Talk

We’ve come a long way in recognizing the severity of the mental health issues that many of us face. Falsely assigning clinical labels without a proper understanding is a big step in the wrong direction.

When people misuse psychological terminology to attack others, it minimizes the reality of the mental health challenges that people actually face. On top of that, it reinforces negative stereotypes and stigmas surrounding mental health issues as a whole. 

Weaponized self-care talk can also prevent someone from achieving their mental health goals. When someone incorrectly uses psychological terms to deflect responsibility, it shifts the focus away from the issues that they’re actually facing.

Read our related article to discover the dangers of blaming others when things go wrong.

Examples of Weaponized Self-Care Talk

Self-care talk can be weaponized in many different ways. Some of the most common examples of weaponized self-care talk include:

• Accusing someone of gaslighting when they’re giving their perspective
• Calling someone a narcissist when they act selfishly 
• Calling things “triggers” if they react negatively to them
• Dictating another person’s behavior and calling it a boundary

When self-care terminology is misused, it overgeneralizes real issues that many of us face. It’s important to use these terms accurately and appropriately to avoid diluting their significance. 

Weaponized Psychology—When Self-Care Becomes a Weapon

Recently, therapists and other mental health professionals have seen a rise in misused therapy terms. People often misuse these terms to manipulate others or avoid taking accountability for their actions.

Mental health professionals are dedicated to helping individuals resolve their mental health issues. When self-care talk is weaponized, it undermines their efforts by misconstruing real terminology, encouraging toxic behaviors, and discouraging people from getting the help they need.

To prevent weaponized self-care talk, individuals should have a firm understanding of what therapy terms mean, and they should avoid misusing terms that they don’t understand.

Understanding Common Therapy Terminology

The best defense against misinformation is education. Most of the common therapy terms that get weaponized have clinical definitions, and they include:

• Gaslighting—a form of intentional emotional abuse that causes the victim to question their feelings and reality
• Narcissistic personality disorder—a severe personality disorder characterized by grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy
• Triggers—a stimulus that causes someone to involuntarily recall a traumatic event
• Trauma—an emotional response to a severely distressing event
• Boundaries—limits someone sets in their relationships that define what is healthy and acceptable for them

Understanding these terms and how they should be used can prevent the spread of misinformation. Also, it can help individuals recognize when self-care talk is being weaponized against them.

What to Do When Others Are Therapy-Speaking to You

It can be frustrating when people misuse therapeutic language against you, whether they’re using terms to manipulate you or dismiss your thoughts and feelings. This is especially true when you know the actual meanings of therapy terms and they don’t. 

Therapy speak is often weaponized to manipulate you in some way, not to help you or provide you with a diagnosis. When this happens, it’s important to focus on the actual issues to avoid being drawn into the manipulation.

It’s also important to understand that only a mental health professional can provide an accurate diagnosis. If you truly believe that you are suffering from a particular mental health condition, then you should speak with a licensed mental health professional.

Inner Balance Counseling—Helping You Navigate Mental Health 

At Inner Balance Counseling, we understand the importance of mental health education and what it means for you and your mental health journey. Not only are we dedicated to helping you receive an accurate diagnosis, but we are also dedicated to teaching you how to use therapy terms accurately and responsibly. 

If you or a loved one could benefit from meeting with a professional mental health expert, reach out to one of our licensed therapists today.