5MM CULTURE SHIFT - ARE WE SETTING HEALTHIER BOUNDARIES, OR JUST AVOIDING UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS

A few years ago, phrases like "protect your peace," "set boundaries," "prioritise your mental health," and "that's toxic" became part of our everyday vocabulary. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Therapy language has helped many of us recognise unhealthy relationships, communicate our needs better, and take our mental health more seriously. Words like boundaries, gaslighting, triggers and self-care have gone from therapy rooms to TikTok, group chats and everyday conversations. But have we swung too far in the other direction? Psychologists have started talking about the rise of "therapy speak" — the use of psychological terms in everyday life. While greater awareness of mental health is a positive thing, some experts warn that terms like gaslighting, narcissist, toxic and even boundaries are sometimes being overused or misused We've all heard it: "I'm protecting my peace." "That's a boundary." "That relationship was toxic." Do you think therapy language has helped us understand ourselves better, or are we analysing every interaction a little too much?