To think we should put a stop to terms like 'toxic', 'narcissistic', 'gaslighting'...

If you grew up with a parent who abused you but you could never understand why, would you not want to try and explore that? Why one sibling is bullied but another is treated much more favourably. Or would you just accept that you were treated badly because your parent liked you less. The dynamics of a family are a crucial component of people healing from a lifetime of abuse. But you know what, that parent is never going to get diagnosed because they have no self awareness at all. No conscience. So to me YABU. You haven’t had to live with it.

Hard disagree. People with narcissistic traits or certain personality disorders rarely seek a diagnosis themselves, which is exactly why wider awareness is so important. My friend was being abused for years and had no idea her ex‑husband’s behaviour fit this pattern until I pointed it out.

She’s still in a horrendous situation because of him, but if she'd recognised the signs earlier, she could have got support sooner and perhaps not lost her children (very sad situation)

My dad showed many traits of sociopathic behaviour, and the idea of him ever seeing a therapist or seeking a diagnosis is laughable. It just wouldn’t have happened — not in a million years. Part of the pattern is that they see rules as something for other people, and that extends to engaging with therapy or any kind of accountability.

YABU. Sometimes they are the right words to use.

I was once called a sociopath by a family member. A recent diagnosis from a professional actually means that I am the opposite to a sociopath in professional terms.

Having been a victim of a horrible man, I have mixed feelings. I feel that by giving his behaviour a label makes what he did excuseable and also, he has no diagnosis aside from a long history of people who disappear from his life. I feel he would enjoy a label too. He tended to think only he was allowed to have mental health difficulties. Everyone else, he felt was making it up.

What I think would be better is having more robust legal avenues to stop people treating others so badly. I did not have a leg to stand on to fight against my abuser despite evidence as he cut contact.

YANBU

These words are overused and so often misused.

Especially 'gaslighting'.

Fine when used by someone who knows what it means and in the proper context.

I agree with you that these words are misused and that the way that therapy-speak and pop-psychology phrases are overused and that it's annoying. But how do you propose that these words could be banned? By whom?

Who made you the boss of language? I love the word gaslighting and it's origins; I'm not stopping using it.

Not sure that banning words is the way to go, no.

I don't think we should put a stop to them, but we should definitely use them appropriately. For example, using narcissistic when referring to a person with a formal diagnosis of NPD, not just a MIL we don't like.
Toxic to describe toxic substances.
Gaslighting has an official definition and should not be used every time your lover said something you disagree with.
I don't have an issue with boundaries.
Safe space...well, the whole concept can be a bit problematic, depending on context.