Stop Shaming and Blaming the Sick and Injured |
Many aspects of our culture inhibit the healing of the sick and injured by shaming and blaming them.
Unwell individuals exposed to these aspects come to shame and blame themselves.
This can inhibit them from taking compassionate care of themselves and seeking medical treatment.
Very few people choose to be sick or injured. Significant aspects of American cultural behavior can make these individuals feel guilty or ashamed. This can inhibit them from healing and seeking appropriate healthcare, often resulting in suboptimal and sometimes catastrophic outcomes. Individuals attempting to heal from illness or injury will do best to approach their healing with dignity and strength. They benefit from the support of their friends, family members, and providers in the form of compassion and encouragement.
The sources of shame and guilt toward the sick and injured are too numerous to fully describe here, but following are some very common sources.
Family Members and Friends
Those closest to the unwell often bear the burden of taking care of them and often have to make significant sacrifices. For example, they may have to forgo important or pleasurable activities to be available to their ailing loved one. There may be significant loss of income if the loved one is employed and does not have sick leave as a benefit.
Sustained illness or injury is often associated with feelings of resentment as the sacrifices continue. In some cases, caretaker burnout results. Even the most compassionate caretakers struggle to suppress these feelings over time. Most unwell individuals already feel inadequate and burdensome to others and are........