Related, but not the same

10 medical terms you use often, but not always correctly

Is experiencing emotional discomfort the same as experiencing trauma? What does it really mean to be anxious? Specialized terms from all areas often find their way into everyday language.

Medicine and psychology are no exception, but the real meaning of these terms doesn’t always translate fully into informal language. Here are 10 medical terms that we use often, and what they really mean.

A marked preference for neatness or a very structured personality is not enough to claim "being OCD." Medically, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a chronic mental health condition, in many cases highly debilitating.

OCD can affect several aspects of a person’s life, ranging from suffering from distressing intrusive thoughts to feeling completely out of control, to having compulsive behaviors or routines.

We are sometimes quick to label selfish, attention-seeking, or self-centered behavior as "narcissism," but as a diagnosis, "narcissism" describes a pathology that goes beyond that.

Individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) lack empathy, feel truly superior to those around them, and demand constant admiration and preferential treatment, even when it comes at the detriment of others.

In its medical sense, there is more than one definition of trauma. It can refer to severe physical injuries such as deep cuts and wounds or broken bones, but also to the deep psychological response to an extreme situation.

While the everyday use of "trauma" is related to the psychological use of the term, it often applies to situations that, although stressful or emotionally taxing, lack the severity and the lifelong impact of a medically diagnosed traumatic episode.

Here we have to make a distinction between feeling anxious and suffering from anxiety, because these two are quite different. Anxiety is a normal emotional response to stress, and it typically fades after the stressful event passes.

When this emotional response is constant and causes uncontrollable worry and fear, it goes beyond just "feeling anxious" and can evolve into an Anxiety Disorder that interferes with daily life and often requires medical diagnosis and treatment.

Many can relate to feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by responsibilities, work, or any other aspect of life, a feeling that is often described as "burnout". Medically, "burnout" is not a diagnosis, but a syndrome (a collection of signs and symptoms).

Typically resulting from workplace stress, "burnout syndrome" manifests as deep physical exhaustion, mental detachment from reality, and reduced efficiency at work or other personal tasks.

The difference between the medical and everyday use of this term comes from a misconception of what "acute" really means. Medically, acute is the opposite of chronic, describing conditions that are sudden and short-lived, quickly progressing and resolving. While many dangerous and life-threatening situations might be acute, acute merely describes a timeline.

The common use of "acute", however, has only incorporated the meaning of something being sudden, interpreted as "critical", so we hear "acute" as a descriptor for severe, extreme, or high-intensity situations.

Medically, a placebo is something that resembles a medical treatment or substance but lacks its chemical effects, often used as a control in a clinical trial or as a way to help patients who don’t actually need treatment but need psychological reassurance.

This second use is the one that has transpired into everyday language, where "placebo" refers to anything that provides a sense of security or psychological comfort, but not a practical solution.

In its medical sense, "anemia" describes a low red blood cell count or a lack of hemoglobin, which lowers the amount of oxygen in the blood and can potentially have severe effects on the body.

People suffering from anemia often lack vitality and physical strength, which explains why it became synonymous with low energy, drowsiness, lack of enthusiasm, and even underperforming businesses and economies.

Toxic is a concept used in medicine and many other fields and describes substances that cause physical, chemical, or biological damage to living tissue, cells, or organs.

While this meaning is also present in the everyday use of the term, "toxic" is also used as a metaphor for emotionally harmful people, environments, and behaviors.

We often see the terms "introvert/extrovert" as synonymous with "antisocial and shy/social and friendly", but this was not their original meaning. Introduced as concepts by psychiatrist Carl Jung, they refer to personality traits and how people regulate their brain chemistry and nervous system.

Neurologically, introverts tend to be quickly overstimulated, so they gravitate towards quieter environments with lower stimuli, while extroverts have more active nervous systems, which require more stimuli to feel satisfied and content.

Cool your vocab

What is a "Moonglade"? 10 uncommon summer words to impress your friends

Image: Raphaël Biscaldi

Although summer is coming to an end, we are not quite ready to let go yet. There are some pretty English words that, while part of our dictionary, are little known and rarely make their way into everyday conversations. You might have felt the cool touch of "spoondrift," enjoyed watching the "alpenglow," or felt a little "languorous," but you probably have never heard these terms. If you want to discover these and other unfamiliar summer-related words, read on!

Image: Jeremy Bishop

Let's start with a term that covers everything summer: "aestival." This word is an adjective that describes anything related to the summer season, whether it's activities, sensations, processes, or more.

This term comes from Latin. Aestas is the Latin word for "summer," and aestivus means "of summer" or "pertaining to summer." In the 16th century, this word passed into English as "aestival" and is still used today, specifically in scientific contexts, such as biology research.

A clear example of the use of this word would be "The biologist noted the aestival patterns of the migratory birds, which returned to the region during the summer months." Or, more informally, we could just say this is an aestival article.

Image: Stacey Hayden

One of the joys of summer is the scenery: the rich colors of flowers that have blossomed from spring and the rich, bright green of the summer grass and foliage. If you want to wow everyone by elegantly describing the backyard of your summer home, English dictionaries have an adjective that will come in handy.

"Verdant" is used to describe the lush, green vegetation or the vibrant freshness of plants. It comes from the Latin viridis, which means "green" or "fresh." The word entered English around the 16th century, and today, it still retains the meaning associated with the freshness of the color green. Over time, it has also taken on metaphorical meanings, describing someone who is inexperienced.

Image: John Hernandez

While this is a word with a very, very specific meaning, it's perfect for describing moments at the beach. So, if you find yourself by the ocean, you might get the chance to use it!

Have you ever heard of "spoondrift"? Even if you haven't heard the word before, you're probably familiar with what it describes. "Spoondrift" is a noun for the spray or fine mist of seawater that's blown off the tops of waves by the wind. Beautiful, isn't it?

The word was coined in English in the 19th century, and while it's not part of many Americans' everyday conversations, it's a nice term to incorporate into your summer vocabulary, don't you think?

Image: Thanun Buranapong

While, in recent years, this word has made a comeback, the truth is many people still aren't familiar with the meaning of this term.

"Petrichor" not only has a beautiful sound but also describes a lovely scent you've probably experienced. We're talking about that fresh, earthy aroma that rises after a summer rain.

The term was coined relatively recently, in the 1960s, by combining the Greek words petra, meaning "stone," and ichor, the mythical fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.

This aroma specifically occurs when rain falls on dry soil or after a period of warm, dry weather. It's produced by a mix of oils and soil compounds that evaporate into the air.

Image: Vladislav Muslakov

This is the perfect adjective for summer days. When you're on vacation and the heat is just too much, it's the perfect time to relax, whether chilling in bed with the air conditioning cranked up or drifting on an inflatable raft in the pool.

"Languorous" describes that state of relaxation, typical of those lazy, hot days when doing anything feels like too much effort. It can also be associated with the lack of energy produced by the oppressive heat.

Languorous comes from the Latin languere, meaning "to be weak" or "to be languid," and entered English around the 18th century.

Image: Elizeu Dias

Just say this word out loud, and you'll want to use it in all your conversations.

"Effulgent" is a lovely adjective that describes something radiant, something that shines brightly, whether in a literal sense or metaphorically. This term is perfect to describe the bright blue of a summer sky, the sunshine sparkle on the water, or the glowing smile of someone enjoying the season.

"Effulgent" comes from the Latin effulgere, which means "to shine forth," and entered English between the 15th and 16th centuries, retaining most of its meaning.

Image: Mushegh Hakobyan

This is one of those words with a very specific meaning, but it can be incredibly useful at the right moment (and it's undeniably beautiful).

Picture a warm summer evening at a hotel with a perfect view of the mountains, where you can watch the sunset right from your room. Poetic, right? That's the moment when the word "alpenglow" fits perfectly. This noun refers to that reddish light that glows over the mountainsides during sunrise or sunset. We can't help but envy anyone lucky enough to witness such a stunning scene!

This word is different from the rest on this list; it doesn't come from Latin or Greek but from the German word Alpenglühen, a combination of Alpen (referring to the Alps or mountains in general) and glühen ("to glow").

Image: Federico Di Dio photography

When it comes to lovely summer scenery, the next word is perfect for describing the beauty of those spectacular moments.

It's late, the sunset has faded, and the reddish and pink hues have left the sky, making way for the protagonist of the night: the moon. Admired by poets and painters, the moon has fascinated humans for centuries, and the word "moonglade" may come in handy to describe our gorgeous natural satellite.

"Moonglade" emerged in the 19th century and refers specifically to the reflection of the moon's glow drawn on a water surface, whether it's a pool, a lake, or the ocean.

Image: Hoyoun Lee

Sky and sea are a perfect summer combination, right? Especially when their colors perfectly match.

The clear, bright blue of the sky has a name: cerulean. This term describes that special shade of blue, often seen in the cloudless summer skies over the beach.

"Cerulean" comes from the Latin caeruleus, which means exactly "sky blue." While the Latin term is quite old, it only entered English around the 19th century and has its most frequent uses in the artistic field. Will you use it the next time you contemplate the sky?

Image: Joshua Fuller

Now, let's talk about one of summer's most pleasant experiences: that gentle breeze that provides a refreshing break on those hot days. And yes, we have a special word for it.

"Zephyr" is the noun that refers specifically to that soft, gentle breeze, and it has a very interesting origin. The term comes from the Greek Zephyros, the name of the god of the west wind, known as the most favorable wind and associated with the breezes of spring and early summer.

The term entered English through Latin in the 14th century, and from the start, it was associated with its current meaning.