WebMDave

I used to think that the most potent guilt trips were religious—the kind that weaponize eternal damnation to force compliance and erase individual identity. But lately, a secular gospel has been invading my life. It has its own priesthood, its own holy text (the DSM-5), and a remarkably familiar way of making me feel like the bad guy for simply wanting to protect my own peace. Enter the era of normalized toxicity. Social media spotlights are shining brightly on autism, OCPD, narcissism, and family enmeshment. The new awareness is great, but these vastly different conditions are flattening into a single, untouchable category: “Diagnosed.” People wave divergent banners to excuse behavior. It’s created a bizarre conundrum: Suddenly, expecting people to be accountable for their behavior is considered ableist or heartless. Don’t even consider distancing yourself from the toxicity. That’s abandonment. It’s weird. The Great Confusion: Impact vs. Intent When dealing with the intense ...