VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — According to a new study , on TikTok, Instagram, and even in everyday conversations, terms like "gaslighting," "trauma," "toxic," and "OCD" seem to be everywhere. The rise of so-called “therapy speak” reflects a growing willingness to talk about mental health, but experts caution that casually using clinical terms may do more harm than good.

Licensed professional counselor Daryia Biarozkina with Thriveworks in Virginia Beach said many of the words circulating online are actually terminology with very specific definitions.

“These are medical terms, usually,” Biarozkina explained. “When we’re using medical language, they usually do mean medical conditions that affect normal functioning.”

For example, "gaslighting" isn’t just a catch-all insult. It’s a form of

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