Page 45 - December 2021

Empathy: the key to change
When we let go of false beliefs and stereotypes that blame the person with addiction and view them as so much different from us, we can begin to experience compassion and recognize them as people trying to overcome an illness rather than bad people. We can see those struggling with addiction as “us” rather than “them.”
This is not always easy, though. The behaviors of a person with addiction can be extremely hurtful to those around him or her. If we only focused on the behaviors, we might feel anger, disgust, outrage, fear. These negative feelings focused on a group result in prejudice. It is judging a person because of beliefs and feelings one has about their group, and it is nearly always based on both wrong information and negative feelings that come from what we have been taught or what we have experienced.
If we honestly examine our feelings, we may find that we harbor negative feelings for any number of reasons. The solution is nei- ther to defend nor deny these feelings but rather to acknowledge them honestly and work to address our own hurts and fears that we might have experienced. Just as we seek to move toward com- passion for those suffering with addiction, we can also have com- passion for ourselves when we realize that we have experienced pain, and we can seek healing rather than judging ourselves.
Watching our words
One thing that we can all do to fight all elements of stigma right now is to be intentional with our language. Much of the language we use helps to foster an environment where stigma can flour- ish. Choosing to use terms like “person with addiction” or “per- son with a substance use disorder” over terms such as “addict,” “drunk,” “junkie” and the like has a powerful impact of reminding us that the person is a human with a problem rather than a prob- lem person.
Even simply using terms like “not using” or “using” rather than “clean” or “dirty” projects an accurate picture of what is happen-
ing without heaping on stigmatizing labels that make the burden worse for those with addiction.
Many more examples of better, nonstigmatizing language can easily be found in books and advocacy websites.
However, the best way to develop language that helps is to lis- ten to those who feel the weight of our language and be open to change. This kind of intentionality with our language is not about being politically correct. It is about recognizing that our words have weight, and they contribute, more than almost anything else, to the formation of our environment. As the most powerful thing we humans have, we all have a responsibility to take care with our words.
Uniting to create a better environment
So this is the call to me, to you, to all of the great big “us.” Let us look at our thoughts, feelings and actions around those afflicted with addiction and decide to change ourselves in order to change our environment.
Taking responsibility for the part we play in our collective en- vironment is not about taking the blame for any person or issue. It is about recognizing that we are all part of a whole, and we can truly choose to make our whole just a little bit better. When we choose to do that together, things that seem impossible become possible, and we can truly change the world.
Dr. John Dyben is the chief clinical officer for Origins Behavioral Healthcare. Origins is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues and beyond. Our primary mission is to pro- vide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration. We offer re- nowned clinical care for addiction and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting sobriety. For in- formation on our programs, call us today: 844-211-4879.
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