The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis suggests that language shapes our thought processes and experiences, meaning that if we lack words for certain feelings, we may struggle to recognize them.
Recent research utilizing fMRI has shown that the learning of new words literally rewires the brain, affecting cognitive processes and highlighting the profound impact language has on our thinking.
Without access to the appropriate vocabulary, individuals often fail to identify their own complex feelings—like ambivalence—demonstrating how essential language is for self-recognition.
The experience I had postpartum illustrated this concept profoundly; the term 'birth trauma' provided me the vocabulary to process my disorientation following an emergency c-section, enabling my healing.
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