In a Cairo café, a casual conversation between friends takes an unexpected turn. One says the comment was “exciting.” Another explains the breakup as a result of “toxic behavior.” A third talks about “setting boundaries.” None of them are therapists, but the language sounds familiar, almost routine. For many young people, especially in upper and middle-class circles, the vocabulary of therapy has become the easiest way to explain feelings and relationships. Words that once belonged in private sessions now sit comfortably in everyday conversations, shaping how disagreements, hurt, and conflict are understood. A form of online language This transformation did not begin in therapy rooms. I started online. On TikTok, emotional experiences are often simplified into quick explanations. A strained friendship becomes a lesson about boundaries. A strained relationship with a parent is reframed as emotional unavailability. Separation is explained through attachment styles. According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, most mental health content on TikTok is created by non-professionals and presents psychological concepts in overly simplistic, relatable ways rather than in clinical terms. The study found that complex experiences are often reduced to what is easily recognizable…
