Why We Don't Like Talking About Poor Health
You don’t have to look far for articles and blogs talking about good health. It’s everywhere. People tout their healthfulness, showing it off in new and novel ways, almost using it as a tool for status.
Author:Katharine TateReviewer:Karan EmeryOct 09, 20238.5K Shares127.8K Views
You don’t have to look far for articles and blogs talking about good health. It’s everywhere. People tout their healthfulness, showing it off in new and novel ways, almost using it as a tool for status.
But when you look at the flip side – people talking about poor health – you don’t find as much material. Sure, it’s out there, but it’s clear we don’t like talking about it.
The same thing happens in our personal lives. Talking to friends and family about things to make you healthy is easy. But discussing your personal issues and problems isn’t so straightforward.
The purpose of this article is to explore some of the reasons why we don’t like talking about poor health. Here’s everything you need to know:
The Negative Emotions
Perhaps the biggest reason we don’t like discussing poor health is the negative emotions it brings up. These negative emotions can be significant, according to the car accident lawyer, Demand the Limits.
“After people get into an accident, their health can decline significantly,” the company says. “Victims face many new challenges, including physical injury and emotional trauma. Just dealing with worsening finances can take a toll on people, let alone the impact an accident had on their bodies.”
“We see the negative emotions that come with poor health in our practice, especially when it comes from outside the victim’s control. When somebody else causes the problem, it makes it harder to deal with.”
So while getting legal help after a collision is a good financial move, it can’t change how we perceive our own health after a chronic injury. Problems still remain, which get us down.
Fear Of Discrimination
Another factor that can hold people back from talking about their health problemsis the fear of discrimination. Individuals worry about what others will think if they reveal their health problems
Discrimination could occur anywhere; at work or even in personal relationships. Colleagues, family, friends and partners might find out about certain health conditions and take actions with negative consequences.
For this reason, many people stay quiet about their health problems. Victims don’t want to reveal anything about the issues they face, keeping them private.
But while this approach might have immediate benefits, it can also take its toll on well-being. People with chronic illnesses may feel isolated from the rest of the community, unable to get the support and health they need.
Lack Of Understanding
Other people may simply misunderstand poor health, which can also discourage victims from discussing their illnesses and problems. The condition might be something friends, family and colleagues can’t see, making it hard to talk about.
The best example of this is mental health conditions. Depression, for instance, might not be immediately obvious from the outside, but it can have debilitating effects on a person’s life. It’s not something individuals can snap out of, and it’s not the same as just feeling sad. It’s fundamentally a different form of consciousness and something requiring management.
Explaining all this to other people can be tiring and often doesn’t lead to new understanding. Instead, others remain confused or simply offer unwelcome advice and judgment. Therefore, it is again better to simply remain silent.
Denial
Another reason we don’t like talking about poor health may simply be denial. Our unconscious doesn’t want us to bring up the health problems we face because we don’t want to deal with them. Choosing not to mention diseases or problems can be a way of distracting ourselves or better coping with the issues we face.
While our culture encourages talking about our problems, endlessly discussing health issues could make them more real. Therefore, there may be benefits to ignoring unavoidable health issues.
The Need For Privacy
For some of us, the need for privacy is a driving force behind why we dislike talking about our health problems. We don’t want to share personal information with people we barely know about the conditions we face.
This need for privacy is especially important when other people might perceive conditions as self-inflicted, such as obesity or self-harm. If we talk about it, we might fear being judged by others, or labeled in a negative way.
Stigma
We also don’t like talking about health conditions because of the stigma attached to many of them. Again, this comes back to being judged negatively by those around us.
Stigma varies significantly by culture. For example, tuberculosis was a disease associated with high levels of stigma until vaccinations and antibiotics arrived. Society viewed it as a disease of the poor, generated by cramped and unhygienic living arrangements.
Stigma remains prevalent among people with STDs or conditions other people view as self-inflicted. Judgment may come in the form of telling you to “get a grip” on life, or take more responsibility.
Fear Of Pity
For some people, the fear of sympathyor pity can prevent them from talking about health issues. While having the support of others can be helpful, it can also get in the way of living a normal life. Everywhere you go, people are trying to make accommodations instead of viewing you as a regular person.
The feeling of pity can be extreme in some cases, particularly if we view ourselves as confident, outgoing and successful people. While we might want to share our thoughts with others, we worry that it could lead to coddling or a loss of independence. It could also lead to a loss of dignity if we believe everyone else needs to do things for us.
The Need To Be Stoic
Lastly, the need to be stoic can play an essential role in why we don’t like talking about poor health. While lack of healthinvolves significant suffering, we believe we should power through and do whatever we can to ignore the problem. Everyone suffers, we tell ourselves, “it’s a part of life.”
So, there you have it: the reasons why we don’t like talking about poor health. Do any of these points and ideas resonate with you?
Katharine Tate
Author
Karan Emery
Reviewer
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