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Borderline Quote by Martha Manning

“Call someone 'a schizophrenic' or 'a borderline' [and it] lulls us into a false sense that those words tell us who the person is, rather than only telling us how the person suffers.” quote by Martha Manning
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““Call someone 'a schizophrenic' or 'a borderline' [and it] lulls us into a false sense that those words tell us who the person is, rather than only telling us how the person suffers.””

Martha Manning

About This Quote

Source Interview: The Art of Healing, Martha Manning, 2015

Labeling mental illness reduces complex suffering to a simple identity, obscuring the person's experience and perpetuating stigma.

In simple terms: Names hide the real pain.

Key Takeaway

Focus on the person's suffering, not the label.

Themes

stigma identity mental health compassion

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

analytical empathetic

When to use this quote

  • clinical practice
  • public discourse
  • education
  • support groups

Key Concepts

psychology labeling theory human dignity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does labeling affect empathy?
  • What alternatives to labeling exist?
A Different Perspective

Labels can oversimplify and ignore individual nuance.

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