Thread: Does swearing relieve your stress?

I find one nice long "fuck" to be enough when I stub a toe to be enough. Many more when the issue is larger.

Also applies without the quotes.

I haven't said a cuss word in years in real life...not even when I'm alone.

Online, I'll say things like "wtf" and "damn" but that's about it.

No effect whatsoever. I guess I don't get stressed over things that can be solved with bad words...

I haven't had stress in over a year ;_;

It could well be a load of nonsense. What was this 'study'? Did they just give people a survery asking 'do you find swearing makes your job more tolerable'? Or did they do a proper scientific investigation into the effects upon levels of stress hormones with control groups? I'd hazard a guess at the former. Most of these studies turn out to be complete bollocks, especially when the details aren't even mentioned.

Somehow I doubt it's nonsense. Especially from experience.

the only time I swear is playing video games...something about them gets me waaay more frustrated than I should be. Oh and driving behind stupid drivers, they suuuuck too.

this idea that cursing relieves stress, its misleading. its like passing gas, farting doesn't relieve being bloated. it doesn't mean you won't need to fart again later =b


stress isn't the 'problem', its just a symptom of a problem. like nausea. just because something happens it doesn't mean it should have to stress you out. stubbing your toe doesn't mean you need to curse to feel better, because stubbing your toe shouldn't even affect you emotionally!!!

trivial things shouldn't have to upset anyone to the point where they curse. and I know this because I have polar opposities in my life. I have family member who curse at doors, cups, and a list of other inanimate objects when something annoys them. and then I have friends who are so mellow and passive, you have to run them over with a truck before anything really affects them

cursing might help for the time being

but what you really want is not get to the point where you don't need to curse to begin with. and thats looking at the real reasons why you are stressed out, rather then venting at inanimate objects

I swear more often than I'd like to, and I really don't find it as a proper stress relief, primarily because most of the major stresses in my life are not really easily removable. I try to not swear as much though anyway.

Swearing is more or less a result of stress a lot of the time, but doesn't really do much to relieve it.

I tend to swear at other times as well, when something's really funny or I don't understand something.

So...not really.

The simple fact that it feels good to express a certain emotion (frustration, anger) does not necessarily imply that it is somehow draining an internal reservoir of said emotion.

Expressing anger or frustration won't make you less angry/frustrated any more than expressing happiness will make you less happy. This concept is known as catharsis, and extensive psychological research suggests that it is typically an illusion - in fact, expressing an emotion usually tends to intensify that emotion (i.e., expressing anger may feel gratifying, but it actually makes you more angry).

Originally Posted by De-lousedInTheComatorium

I had always noticed that a nice series of swear words comes in handy if I've stubbed my toe or simply become stressed over something small or big all of the sudden. So I finally did a search on it and apparently there have been studies done on this, and it's pretty old now. I wonder if they'd be effective even if they weren't generally unacceptable.

How effective do people around here find it?

I think they do a lot to reduce stress. What I know for a fact is that they are what my mouth happens to be saying when I am in a major crisis. It seems to help vent anger and frustration. Even if the swearing doesn't help any, venting emotions helps me a lot more than keeping them bottled up. I think that is true of a lot of people.

When my former roomate's dog got hit by a car (and lived) when he was running around the neighborhood with me, a bunch of people came out of their houses to check out the scene. I was yelling out one obscenity after another without even thinking about it. My subconscious took over and reacted, and it seemed to think that swearing was the way to go. There must be something to it.

I swear all the time. I invent my own swear words all the time. Like Fuckopolis. Whenever I'm playing a game and someone blasts my head off, I proceed with saying something resembling this, "fucking god damn fucking bitch-ass snipers being cheap as hell! FUCK!"

I really hate how the word fuck has, in some circles, become the new word people say to pause. Instead of going, "That uhhh truck." some people go, "That fuuuckiinnng truck." Way overused by jackasses. People need to learn not to use swear words in a neutral manner.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

I really hate how the word fuck has, in some circles, become the new word people say to pause. Instead of going, "That uhhh truck." some people go, "That fuuuckiinnng truck." Way overused by jackasses. People need to learn not to use swear words in a neutral manner.

Saying certain words should not be taboo, ever. Do you realize that there are some people who think saying 'fuck' in public is a crime?

I second Kushna.

Also, beating the shit out of something is good too.

No offense to those who cuss, but.......
When I was about 12 years old, I was playing at a park by myself, saying all the bad words I knew to make myself feel more mature. I was happy and having a grand ole' time when my brain surprised me by asking: 'Do you realize what an idiot you're making yourself out as?' and that broke me of swearing for the most part. And since then swearing only ADDS to my stress.
When I've caught my kids swearing in the past I tell them they need to find a more creative way of expressing themselves and that people who swear overly much sound uneducated, immature, and unimaginative.

But, to understand my view more (and please excuse the sterotype) my dad is a Cajun and a former Sailor and his speach can put anyone to shame. I was often embarrassed by him growing up.

Ironically, whenever I have to spend time with my dad or brother swear words echo in my brain for weeks afterwards. Maybe it's the OCD in me, but I HATE it with a passion.

Also, for me, pain often clears my head and calms me down. It's not stressful at all unless it's long lived or persistent.

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

Also, for me, pain often clears my head and calms me down. It's not stressful at all unless it's long lived or persistent.

What? Pain sends most people into the whole "What the hell just happened, and am I okay?" Mostly for me it's scary wondering if I'm alright. Unless it's like a paper cut, then I'll be like, "Go, please send this paper to burn for eternity in paper-hell".

But, if that calms you down, then, okay...whatever floats your boat.

lol, in my case, I've been a self-injurer since I was about 7 years old, so it's probably a conditioning thing. Sudden pain or controlled pain (pain I cause myself) clears my head and helps me focus. But drawn out pain that I can't control will make me blubber like any baby. If it's drawn out discomfort then I can't focus unless I counter it with controlled pain, but then it's short lived.

Yeah... I'm a weird one lol

I don't swear much, although recently I have been. My boss is rubbing off on me I don't find it relieves stress.

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

lol, in my case, I've been a self-injurer since I was about 7 years old, so it's probably a conditioning thing. Sudden pain or controlled pain (pain I cause myself) clears my head and helps me focus. But drawn out pain that I can't control will make me blubber like any baby. If it's drawn out discomfort then I can't focus unless I counter it with controlled pain, but then it's short lived.

Yeah... I'm a weird one lol

You...hurt yourself to clear your mind. Uhh...once again, whatever floats your boat dude.

Originally Posted by xXSomeGuyXx

You...hurt yourself to clear your mind. Uhh...once again, whatever floats your boat dude.

I'm not someone who follows self-injury or understands it, but by now you should know at least about wrist-cutting. The reason behind which is usually "pain relief." People claim that causing themselves physical pain takes their mind off of mental pain or stress.

I'm not saying anything about Zhaylin, but I'm just talking in general.

Yeah I heard that too. I can see it if you genuinly hate yourself, but for other purposes, wtf.

I'd say it certainly relieves the stress or frustration of pain, the given toe stubbing scenario for example. Swearing would not help me calm down or de-stress if i was running around like a headless chicken shouting "Oh no! I have loads of work to do and the deadline's tomorrow and I haven't even thought of how to start it and there's not enough time to do it and I'm feeling ill and I have to walk the dog and..."

Stress relief is the only reason I swear. Be it because I'm in pain, because I'm arguing with someone, or just extremely anxious.

But, as DuB said, it's not actually relief, or is it? That is questionable. If it actually feels good, then you can't say it isn't relief, no matter if it tends to intensify the feeling afterwards. It may not be relief to stress, but it is relief to keeping that stress for yourself. It's just like finding someone that understands a problem in your life. Doesn't solve your problem, does it?

Finally, I say that swearing is the purest and most beautiful form of poetry. It is expression of emotion in the most fundamental kind.