Ending the Stigma: Why the Words We Use Matter
I recently had to take a trip to the emergency room for some concerning symptoms following a major surgery. It turned out to be nothing, but in the moment it was really scary.
After the ordeal was over, I poured over the doctor’s notes to try and understand (and if I’m honest with myself, to overthink) what had happened.
I was described as being in good health but also an “anxious female.”
The last bit got to me.
Anxious female? Excuse me, sir?
I realize clinical language differs from the language we use in recovery, but it didn’t feel like a fair assessment.
Admittedly, I do live with anxiety, but he didn’t know that, and I have been coping successfully for many years now. To me, the event would have been anxiety-inducing for anyone, not just for someone who has been diagnosed with the condition.
The description felt inaccurate. Even worse, it felt dismissive.
It seems now more than ever, we are speaking openly and authentically about mental health and substance use. Despite increasing awareness, stigmatizing language is still common, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about individuals who live with these conditions.
By understanding the impact of our language, we can create a more compassionate and inclusive dialogue.
Stigmatizing language often emphasizes the cognition of the individual’s physical or mental health rather than perceiving the individual as a person who is living with the condition.
Calling someone a “diabetic” instead of “a person living with diabetes” or labeling someone as a “meth head” instead of “a person living with a substance use disorder.”
These words imply that the person is choosing behaviors because they are a “junkie” for example, as opposed to seeing the behaviors as symptoms of a substance use disorder.
Notice how it’s not “suffering from” said condition.
When we assume suffering, we are again imposing our own judgment. The person may not be suffering at all, and maybe they are thriving while living with a substance use or mental health disorder
The National Library of Medicine cited “disappointing others” and “being considered a failure in life” as common reasons to avoid seeking treatment.
In other words, fear of judgment.
Suppose we can create barriers to treatment simply by perpetuating stigma with the language we use.
Wouldn’t logic dictate that we can break down those same barriers by destigmatizing our language?
When Harvard Medical School researched to answer this question, it was clear how crucial our language is to outcomes in recovery. They made two sets of case histories. One referred to the patient as a “substance abuser,” the other as “a person with a substance use disorder.” They found clinicians who were assigned the patients labeled as “substance abuser” showed “much more punitive attitudes” toward the patient than clinicians who were assigned to the “person with a substance use disorder.”
Changing how we talk about mental health and substance misuse can help shift our attitudes about those who struggle with disorders, ultimately taking the shame out of seeking treatment.
At the very least, it can help us see each other as human.
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Nabhinani, Naresh, et al. Reasons for Help-Seeking and Associated Fears in Subjects with Substance Dependence. Research report no. 23162192, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2012. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3498779/. Accessed 21 Apr. 2024.
Walsh, Colleen. "Revising the language of addiction." The Harvard Gazette, 28 Aug. 2017,
news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/08/revising-the-language-of-addiction/. Accessed 21 Apr. 2024.