We hardly think of the effect certain words will have on well-being, but science suggests there’s a link between our vocabulary and our health. In fact, there are three words you probably say quite a bit during your day that are linked to poor mental health. According to social psychology research, patients suffering from depression demonstrated a persistent and obsessive overuse of first-person singular pronouns, such as I, me, and myself. But hold your horses. The research doesn’t imply that using such words actually causes depression. It is, however, important to note that the more patients verbally expressed these words in dialogue, the more it was linked to depression even eight months later. The research found that frequent use of first-person singular pronouns went hand in hand with interpersonal problems characterized by what scientists called an “intrusive style,” including inappropriate self-disclosure, attention seeking, and an inability to spend time alone. So, how does one replace these common words? The simple thing to do is rely more greatly on first-person plural pronouns such as we and us, which emphasizes social relationships and togetherness of selfishness. Still, the research doesn’t mean you have to rid these words from your vocabulary. Rather, it simply highlights how our word choice actually plays a role in our mental health.
Why you should consider using these 3 words less often
More of Today's Solutions
A 58-day protest campaign just convinced Etsy to ban fur
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade did not simply write a letter. For 58 days, CAFT ran ...
Read MoreWhy your wandering mind is exactly what meditation is for
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Most people who try meditation for the first time expect their mind to go quiet. Instead, it does ...
Read MoreFive steps for making your clothes last as long as possible
The clothes we wear can make us feel confident and help us express our inner selves. Unfortunately, our culture of fast fashion produces these ...
Read MoreHere’s why grapes are good for your gut
The health benefits of grapes Grapes are the perfect, portable healthy snack to eat. Enclosed in their bite-size shells, they are a widely popular ...
Read More
