3 Viral Mental Health Myths Debunked | Joe Nucci
The Art of Charm
Defining Psychobabble and the First Misuses
AJ asks for a definition of psychobabble; Joe explains using therapy language to assert positions and his grad-school examples.
Are we drowning in psychobabble? In this episode, AJ and Johnny sit down with psychotherapist and author Joe Nucci to debunk the viral mental health myths dominating social media. From the overuse of “trauma” and “gaslighting” to the idea that everyone needs therapy, Joe exposes how pop-psychology has blurred the lines between real treatment and trendy jargon.
They dig into why therapy has become a status symbol, how diagnoses are being misused as identity labels, and the dangers of weaponizing terms like narcissism in dating and relationships. Joe also explains what gaslighting actually is (and why it can’t happen in a single argument), and how social media is encouraging unhealthy identity-seeking through mental health labels.
Whether you’ve rolled your eyes at overused buzzwords online—or wondered if you’re guilty of using them yourself—this conversation will help you cut through the noise, spot real red flags, and separate genuine mental health wisdom from misleading myths.
What to Listen For
[00:00:22] Defining psychobabble—why using therapy language as weapons is so common
[00:03:23] Why we crave explanations—and how psychobabble gives false certainty
[00:04:52] Myth #1: “Everybody needs therapy”—why it’s not true
[00:07:36] How therapy turned into a status symbol and dating requirement
[00:12:59] Is more intimacy always better? Why therapy shouldn’t replace real connection
[00:17:18] Myth #2: “Everyone has trauma”—the real definition of trauma vs. pop culture
[00:25:39] Myth #3: “Your diagnosis is your identity”—why labels aren’t the end point
[00:32:30] How “awkward” became “neurodivergent”—the dangers of expanding definitions
[00:36:25] Why “everyone’s ex is a narcissist” has become toxic for relationships
[00:46:25] The real definition of gaslighting—and why it takes time, not one fight
[00:52:01] How true gaslighting destroys self-trust and why casual misuse is harmful
[00:53:36] Where to find Joe’s book Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths and the Truths That Will Set You Free
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