ShareWell Glossary

Acceptance means being able to choose when and how you respond rather than letting other people's thoughts, feelings or behaviors determine your response.

Affirmations are short, intentional statements used to reinforce supportive beliefs and shift self-talk over time.

Active listening is the process of deeply concentrating on hearing what is said, and using a number of strategies to understand the message completely.

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common condition affecting children and teens that is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.

Anxiety is the body's natural response to stress. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting nearly 40 million American adults.

Attachment theory is a psychological development model stating that infant and child development are shaped by early experiences with caregivers, which can affect their ability to form healthy relationships as adults.

Bargaining in grief is the process of mentally negotiating with reality, often through "what if" or "if only" thoughts, in an attempt to cope with loss, regain a sense of control, or stay emotionally connected to what was lost.

Boundaries are your limits, rules and where you set the line for how people treat you. They can be emotional, mental, spiritual and sexual, and can be set in all areas of your life.

Setting boundaries may feel selfish, uncomfortable, or even dangerous. Although setting boundaries is widely recognized as an empowering move, for many people, they may feel guilty or anxious instead.

Breathwork refers to a range of techniques that involve conscious control of breathing patterns to influence the nervous system. Breathwork can help the body calm down, increase energy, and support emotional stability.

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwhelm, often leaving people feeling depleted, disconnected, and unable to recover through short breaks alone.

Body doubling is simply using the presence of others to help you get things done. It can work with friends or strangers, whether you're together in person or online.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects how emotions, self-image, and relationships are experienced, often involving intense emotional sensitivity, fear of abandonment, and challenges with emotional regulation.

Closure is the internal process of making sense of an experience so it can be integrated into your life story with less emotional weight, even when you do not have all the answers.

Chronic pain is a condition that lasts for more than three months, affecting millions of Americans every day across a wide range of causes and types.

Childhood trauma refers to distressing experiences that happen during childhood. It's more than just a couple of bad memories; it can make a lasting impact throughout your life, on your nervous system, and alter the way your brain learns to understand safety, connection, and self-worth.

Cluster B personality disorders are a set of personality disorders that can be challenging and problematic, often involving manipulation, control, and difficulty with empathy.

Co-dependency is a pattern of behavior in which one person enables another, often found in relationships where there is abuse or addiction.

Coercive control is a form of psychological abuse involving the use of intimidation, harassment, and fear to control another person.

Compassion is defined as a feeling that relates to suffering and involves an authentic desire to alleviate another's suffering or a friendly and considerate disposition.

Coping skills are the tools you use to manage difficult emotions, traumatic events or toxic relationships in healthy, constructive ways.

Denial is a temporary defense mechanism used to protect a person from negative emotions, often as a way of coping with stressful situations, trauma or abuse.

Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of Americans and is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

If you grew up in an unpredictable, inconsistent environment with unstable caregiving, you may feel like closeness or connection isn't always comforting like others may feel. It's confusing and it may even feel dangerous at times, even when you're being loved.

Dissociation isn't just "spacing out." It's a deeper disruption in how a person experiences themselves, their body, or the world around them. Many people who dissociate describe feeling disconnected from their thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations, as if they're watching life from a distance.

Emotional abuse can be hard to recognize because it encompasses behavior that we've been socially conditioned to think is normal, including controlling behavior and manipulation.

Emotional check-ins are intentional moments of self-awareness. It's when you pause, take a breath, and ask yourself simple but powerful questions.

Emotional neglect is the experience of not having your emotional needs validated, supported, or responded to, usually in significant relationships or settings.

Emotional regulation is the ability to identify, recognize, and manage emotions. It's about being able to influence which emotions you have, when you have them, and how intensely you experience them.

The fawn response is a survival reaction often shaped by past trauma. It's when someone prioritizes other people's needs above their own needs, comfort, or emotions in order to avoid conflict or harm.

Financial abuse is a form of interpersonal violence that occurs when one partner controls the other's access to financial resources, forcing dependency on the perpetrator.

Flow is a state of intense focus, full involvement and enjoyment in a person's chosen activity, often described as being 'in the zone.'

Future faking is a subconscious habit of imagining future plans, commitments, or outcomes as if they've already happened, even when there's little action happening in the present to support them.

Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse that's seen in abusive relationships. It's the way that abusers manipulate victims, twisting the truth and denying they ever said or did things, even when there are witnesses and evidence to the contrary.

Glimmers are experiences that signal safety, comfort, or joy. Unlike intense emotions, glimmers are small and often easy to overlook. They could be as simple as the warmth of sunlight, a voice that feels reassuring, or a brief moment of laughter with someone.

Goal setting isn't just deciding what you want. It's a way to connect your intentions with action, bridging the gap between now and the future.

Grey Rocking is a way to set boundaries and avoid conflict. It refers to a person becoming as disengaged, unresponsive, and neutral as possible in all their interactions with another person, essentially mimicking a "grey rock." If you find yourself being emotionally abused by another person and cannot go No Contact, Grey Rock may be able to help you alleviate the abuse.

Grounding techniques are methods designed to bring you back into the moment and regain control over your body and your consciousness. Grounding isn't about forcing you to ignore your emotions to calm down. It's about reconnecting with the present moment and reclaiming control.

Inner peace is a steady, grounded state of calm and self-trust that allows you to remain centered even when life feels stressful, uncertain, or overwhelming.

Lived experience refers to a firsthand life experience that helps people connect with each other and share their stories in a meaningful way.

Loneliness can be described as feeling unsupported, out of place, or like your experiences lack meaning. Contrary to popular belief, it's not necessarily about how many people you know or spend time with.

Love bombing is a pattern of overwhelming affection used to create attachment quickly, often before trust or safety have had time to grow. It can look like a rapid flood of attention, praise, gifts, or promises that feels consuming rather than steady.

Meditation emphasizes intention. It's about honing in your attention to the present moment. There really isn't a right or wrong way to meditate.

Mindfulness is the practice of being aware without judgment, maintaining active, open attention on the present.

Narcissism refers to patterns of thinking and behaving that center heavily on the self, often at the expense of others, and can include a need for admiration, difficulty with empathy, and defensiveness when criticized.

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition that causes people to think, act and feel in ways that are harmful to themselves and to others.

No contact means cutting off all communication with the narcissist in your life to create a new balance of power and practice self-care.

Panic attacks are a common mental health problem involving feelings of terror and intense anxiety accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath.

People pleasing is not just wanting to be helpful; it's losing track of your own needs while trying to meet everyone else's. Many people describe it as slipping into a reflex, saying "of course!" or "no worries!" before you've even checked in with yourself about the situation.

Most people think of personal development as constant improvement, analyzing and trying to fix your flaws, being productive, more confident, and more successful. While these are all attributes to personal development, real personal development is about learning how to understand yourself with honesty, care, and intention rather than trying to turn into someone else.

Personal growth is the perpetual process of understanding yourself deeper and learning by experimenting what habits/actions align best with your values, capacities, and needs. It's not about constantly trying to fix something "wrong" with you.

Phone addiction refers to a pattern of compulsive or habitual phone use that feels difficult to control, even when it interferes with focus, rest, relationships, or overall well-being.

Positive psychology is a field of study that uses empirical research to explore what makes people happier, more resilient, and more fulfilled.

Practical reflection is the act of briefly looking back in order to move forward with more clarity. Instead of asking "What's wrong with me?" it asks what strategies were effective, what ones fell short, and what new techniques might be worth a try.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing trauma, causing the brain and body to remain in survival mode even after danger has passed.

Real, genuine self-care is far from the popularized version. It's the ongoing practice of caring for yourself and accepting that you are a human with limits, emotions, needs, and more.

Self-esteem is the general sense of value and worth you place on yourself. It is a steady inner sense of deserving respect and care, even when life feels difficult or uncertain.

Self-improvement is often looked at as constant optimization: fixing flaws, becoming more productive, more confident, more successful. While growth can and does include these things, true self-improvement isn't actually about transforming yourself into someone else. It's about learning how to understand yourself with honesty and intentionality.

Self-reflection is the practice of turning your attention inward. It's about slowing down to notice your patterns, your values, and your reactions. This awareness helps you live with intention instead of being carried by momentum.

Secure attachment is a relational pattern where a person feels comfortable with independence and emotional expression. People with a secure attachment style usually trust others, believe that they are worthy of care, and feel confident that relationships can handle conflict.

Spirituality is a personal sense of meaning, connection, or purpose that may involve faith, values, or practices that ground you.

Stress management refers to skills and habits that help you reduce stress, recover after challenges, and protect your well-being.

Stimming refers to repetitive movements or sounds that can help people with ADHD and other neurodivergent experiences regulate energy, focus, and emotions.

Stonewalling is when a person refuses to interact verbally with another person, frequently as a result of a heated dispute. It isn't just refusing to talk. It's a deeper struggle to stay emotionally present or engaged.

Time blindness isn't just "losing track of time." It's a deeper struggle to feel the passing of time.

A toxic relationship is characterized by a series of detrimental behaviors that harm one's mental and/or physical health. The dynamic of a toxic relationship often involves manipulation, control, and emotional abuse, all of which lead to feelings of low self-esteem and insecurity. A toxic relationship is not necessarily defined by occasional arguments or misalignments between one another.

Trauma recovery is the process of healing after overwhelming experiences by rebuilding safety, regulation, and trust in yourself and others.

Trauma bonding is a type of emotional and/or physical attachment that occurs when someone experiences extreme trauma, leading to feelings of love or dependence that are not based on healthy connection.

Triangulation is a tactic used by manipulators and narcissists to instill jealousy and uncertainty in relationships.