There are times I remember being told to “ignore the negative behaviors of others and they will stop” or I would observe an individual ignore negative behavior by others in hopes of not escalating the negative verbal behavior against that individual. Does the process of ignoring negative verbal behavior by others stop the individual from displaying negative verbal behavior? If someone is being physically abusive there would be the response of “tell someone or defend yourself”. However, when someone is being verbally abused or challenged there is not much encouragement for an individual to protect his/her mental well-being.
I remember the phrase “sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me”. That phrase may or may not be true verbal abuse over period of time may have the potential for harm. I believe that the well-being of an individual mental health can be shaped by positive verbal comments or negative verbal comments. As a child we do not have the brain development to understand that verbal abuse from others does not define an individual.
As an adult we have clarification that the verbal abuse by others is not the characteristic of the individual, unless childhood trauma has left remnants of negative comments by others that shaped how an individual sees him/herself. I feel it is best to speak up against negative verbal comments whether it is said once or consistently. The results of the harm from one negative word can be as damaging to an individual’s mental health as physical harm. The difference is one maybe visible and one is not!
Voices of Burnout (VOB) 