Have you ever called your friend psycho or mental and did u see how might have upset them, or if u might have not seen that right away you may have seen that they have started distancing themselves from you.
As someone who’s all about helping people through the mental health stuff, I’ve realized that the words we throw around can totally shape how we get each other. They’re like the mental street signs, guiding the way we think and talk about it.
So, let’s know about some phrases that aren’t the coolest and find better ones to swap them with:
First up, don’t go slapping labels on people like “schizophrenic.” It’s like calling someone “cancer” instead of saying they’ve got cancer. Just talk about them as a person, not their battle, okay?
Choose words that don’t make ‘them feel like crap. Ditch “suffering” and “crazy” – those are big mental health no-nos. Go for “living with” or “experiencing” – it’s way more laid-back and shows you get it.
Be mindful of your own luggage. We all have mental baggage, and sometimes we don’t realize we’re spreading not-so-great vibes. Watch out for that.
Learn and spread the love: Get informed and help others get the lowdown. Knowledge is like the VIP pass to being more empathetic and supportive.
Why words matter:
They can either make someone’s day brighter or throw shade on their parade. When we’re respectful and thoughtful with our words, it’s a win-win for everyone dealing with mental stuff:
It smashes the stigma: When we talk about it without the drama, people don’t feel so judged or out of place.
It gets everyone on the same page: Stick to the facts, and folks will actually understand what’s up.
It makes people feel like a boss: Using “people-first” language is like saying, “You’re a human being with feelings, not a walking, talking diagnosis.”
I’ve seen firsthand how much words can impact someone’s self-esteem and their journey. So, let’s all make a pinky promise to keep it real and help smash that stigma together!
Let’s do this thing and make the world a little kinder, one word at a time!
This post is a part of “International Day of Persons with Disability” blog hop hosted by Sakshi Varma – Tripleamommy. #IDPD2024Bloghop. Access all posts of this blog hop at https://tripleamommy.com/2024/12/02/beyond-barriers-amplifying-voices-for-inclusion-marking-idpd-2024/.