For whatever reason, I find that phrase really annoying. The condition is an unfortunate one, the people who suffer from it deserve some sympathy, but one has to subtract sympathy points for the use of the phrase. If it is uttered spontaneously, subtract all the points. And now, I can tell the purveyors of it just where to go.
The entire “in a good/bad space/place” as opposed to simply being/feeling whatever irks the hell out of me too, but I’m easily irked, of course.
Well even if you were a beacon of tolerance like me, it still would. But now we know where to send them.
Going to your safe/good/timeout space, not to mention the sanctity of your private space, sounds a lot like how parents might condition their children. Or how they might have 15 years or so ago, when I had reason to notice and then once more dismiss these things. These people might be the very children raised that way.
Maybe instead of telling them where to go, next time you should insist that they use their words.
“use their words.” Hah.