The Importance of Eliminating “Crazy” from Our Vocabulary with Juliette Kuehnle
Maintaining good mental health is crucial to achieving overall well-being. It pertains to our psychological, emotional, and social welfare, and it plays a vital role in shaping how we perceive, feel, and act. Unfortunately, it’s common for people to label others as “crazy” when they experience mental health challenges. Mental health issues vary in severity, but they can deeply affect our daily lives. Thankfully, mental health has gained more attention in recent times, indicating a heightened awareness of its significance in all aspects of our lives.
Mental health is a crucial component of overall health and well-being. It refers to our psychological, emotional, and social well-being, and it affects how we think, feel, and act. In recent years, mental health has received more attention than ever before, and for good reason. More and more people are speaking out about their struggles with mental illness, and there is a growing awareness of the importance of mental health in all aspects of life. This increased attention to mental health has led to greater understanding, better treatment options, and more support for those who are struggling.
There are many reasons why mental health is getting more attention today. One of the biggest factors is the rise of social media and the internet, which have made it easier for people to connect with others and share their experiences. This has helped to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and increase awareness of the many different types of mental illnesses that exist.
Another reason for the increased attention to mental health is the growing recognition of the impact that mental health has on physical health. Research has shown that mental health issues can contribute to a range of physical health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. By addressing mental health issues, we can improve overall health outcomes and reduce the burden of illness on individuals and society as a whole.
That is Crazy!
The term “crazy” is a colloquial term that has become a part of the American vocabulary, often used to describe someone who is mentally ill or behaving in an erratic or unpredictable manner. The origins of the term are unclear, but it is believed to have been in use since the early 19th century.
While the term “crazy” is often used in a lighthearted or joking manner, it can also carry a negative connotation and perpetuate the stigma surrounding mental health issues. People who struggle with mental illness may fear being labeled as “crazy” and face discrimination or a lack of understanding from others.
I recently spoke with Juliet Kuehnle about the importance of using positive and less stigmatizing language when discussing mental health. She highlighted the significance of recognizing how we use language, and how it can help us to catch ourselves and use more appropriate words. Kuehnle emphasized the importance of understanding how we use diagnoses, as casually throwing them around can perpetuate stigma and dismiss those who carry certain diagnoses.
I’m trying to think of just off the cuff, other other words we use, that are rooted in you know, deep, contextual, systemic oppression of people with mental illnesses. So that’s going to be things like Loony, insane cuckoo, like things like that, where it’s just understanding how powerful you know those words can be. So when we increase our awareness around how we’re using it, then we can maybe catch ourselves and use something that might fit a little better, or we can call people, other people out. And I think more important, maybe even more importantly, is understanding how we use diagnoses. So casually. So you know, people will say things like, oh, my gosh, I’m so OCD, I have to have my desk look a certain way. And like, maybe you don’t actually have that clinical diagnosis. And so it can be really damaging when we throw these things around so casually. And so that I think this continues to perpetuate a stigma and not to mention just how dismissive it is for people who actually carry certain diagnoses. So just bringing an increased awareness of the language, how we’re using it, and not being afraid to call it out, if you hear other people doing it
Juliet Kuehnle
Self-care Isn’t Indulgence, It’s Essential
In our discussion, Juliet also talked about the buzzword of “self-care” and how it has become watered down. Self-care is an essential aspect of maintaining good mental health. It involves taking the time to care for oneself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Self-care practices can include anything from engaging in regular exercise to practicing mindfulness meditation. The importance of self-care lies in its ability to help individuals manage stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve their overall well-being. She encouraged individuals to reflect on free day-to-day activities that they can do to take care of their mind, body, and soul, such as drinking enough water and saying no to depleting activities.
Kuehnle also works with organizations to help them unlearn the connotation that self-care is selfish or indulgent. She assists leaders in understanding how to model and implement self-care into the workplace culture, which allows employees to feel permission to take care of themselves. Her message is that self-care is necessary and not something that should be seen as indulgent. Kuehnle’s hope is for readers to understand that we all have mental health and that mental health is health.
In a society where mental health is stigmatized and often dismissed, Kuehnle’s message is crucial. By being mindful of our language and understanding the impact it has on those with mental illnesses, we can work towards reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. Additionally, emphasizing the importance of self-care can help individuals prioritize their mental health and overall well-being. Implementing self-care into workplace culture can also improve employee morale and productivity.
My work is helping people understand what self care gets to look like for us individually, and then how we can kind of integrate that into our larger contexts and organizations and jobs.
Juliet Kuehnle
She Wrote the Book on Breaking the Stigma
Ending the stigma around mental health starts with paying attention to the internalized messages we carry and challenging the beliefs and biases that are rooted in stigma and misunderstanding. We need to create a new framework that includes compassion and understanding without judgment. Just like any social justice work, ending the stigma around mental health requires creating internal awareness. We need to give ourselves permission to know that there is another framework now that we know more. We need to be more compassionate, understanding, and permissive of a range of human responses and reactions.
Juliet Kuehnle’s new book, “Who You Callin’ Crazy?!: The Journey from Stigma to Therapy,” is an approachable, relatable, and informative resource that addresses the issue of stigma and how it affects our society, head-on, exploring not only how it affects individuals but also how it affects our society as a whole.
What sets this book apart is Juliet’s voice, which jumps off each page. Her warm and positive personality shines through as she shares various anecdotes, examples, and stories that will resonate with readers. It’s clear that Juliet is passionate about this topic, and her passion is infectious.
The book is divided into three parts that correlate to the journey to therapy: recognizing the need for help, seeking therapy, and thriving in therapy. This structure makes it helpful for anyone wherever they are on this journey, whether they’re just starting to consider the idea of therapy or they’re already in treatment.
“Who You Callin’ Crazy?!” is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about therapy or who has felt stigmatized by the idea of seeking help. Juliet Kuehnle’s approachable writing style and relatable anecdotes make this book a joy to read, and her insights are sure to inspire readers to take the first step on their own journey to therapy.
Juliet Kuehnle is a powerful example of a woman taking a leadership position in a male-dominated industry. Her work is not only valuable but also inspiring to others who want to make a difference in the mental health field. With her approach to normalizing and elevating the conversation surrounding mental health, Juliet is on a mission to end the stigma around mental health and encourages us to tend to our mental health in the same way we do our physical health.
My number one thing is that we all have mental health. So when we act like we don’t, or it’s just others, or it’s something that’s that we just don’t want to get near. I just I want people to understand that that’s it’s unnecessary. We all have mental health, mental health is health.
Juliet Kuehnle
I totally relate to how difficult it can be to cope with mental health issues. I’ve been through my own struggles, including surviving suicide attempts and being hospitalized multiple times. Sadly, the stigma around mental health was so strong that those around me didn’t want to talk about it, even though they could see how much I was suffering. When I worked as a youth counselor earlier in my career, I saw so many young people going through the same thing. It was heartbreaking to see how much they were struggling but felt like they couldn’t talk about it or get the help they needed. That’s why mental health is such an important topic for me – I believe we need to break down the stigma and provide better support systems for everyone to be mentally healthy.
Ending the stigma surrounding mental health is crucial for creating a more inclusive and supportive society for all. By challenging our beliefs and biases, seeking therapy, and prioritizing our mental wellness, we can change the way we view mental health and create a better future for ourselves and those around us. Let us end the stigma around mental health and start prioritizing our mental wellness with a little bit of humor and a lot of compassion.
