{"id":3200,"date":"2023-11-13T11:24:46","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T17:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chsofwi.org\/?p=3200"},"modified":"2023-11-13T11:28:28","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T17:28:28","slug":"your-words-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chsofwi.org\/your-words-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Words Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This blog post was written by Monica Reu, Behavioral Health Outpatient Supervisor<\/a> at Community Health Systems.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSticks and stones may break my bones but words shall never hurt me.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At some point in life, most people have heard this phrase or at least some variant of it. In its earliest publication, dating back to the early to mid-1800s, the phrase primarily was used as a defense against name calling and verbal bullying. It was later most known in a children\u2019s rhyme and has appeared in many songs, either in its typical form or with altered lyrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we now know that words matter, and words can and DO hurt people. Brain imaging studies support the theory that words affect how people experience pain. There was a study done in 2019 that found that pain-related and negative words made the intensity of the pain that a person experienced worse than with neutral language. Pain-related words created a stronger response in many areas of the brain, such as the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6749494\/<\/a>). Additionally, words can also cause hurt. There have been multiple studies on the effects of verbal abuse individuals (children, teens, and adults alike) that have shown correlation and causation with negative mental health outcomes, such as depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Stigma?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the most basic sense, stigma is a set of negative and\/or unfair beliefs that a society, group of people, or an individual person has about something. This something can be a particular circumstance, quality, a person, or a group of people. For the purposes of this article, the stigma being discussed is associated with persons with a substance use disorder or persons with mental illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 3 types of stigma: public, systematic and self. Public stigma encompasses public discrimination and devaluation by others. Systematic stigma includes intentional and unintentional reduced access to care and resources due to policies. Self stigma refers to internalization of negative stereotypes and beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What<\/strong> we say and how<\/strong> we say it makes a world of difference to a person with a substance use disorder or mental illness. What does mental health and substance use stigma look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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