The Surprising Power of Cussing

One day about a year ago, I stormed into my chiropractor’s office after a careless driver ran me off the road. Using a torrent of unprintable language, I told my doctor exactly what I thought of stupid drivers.

Then I flopped exhausted into a chair beside his desk and apologized. “Sorry,” I said. “I’m just upset. Hopefully no one heard me.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said with a laugh. “Cussing is good for you.”

He told me about his 90-year-old mother, who is in “really good shape,” and that she tells people it is because “I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, but I cuss.”

That day was an eye-opener for me. Since then, I’ve come to the conclusion that cussing is indeed good for what ails you. When I’m angry, a steady stream of four-letter words makes me feel much better.

Why Cussing Works

Some faint-mouthed souls might suggest I take a bubble bath or meditate instead. Sure, that sounds great. But when you’re late and caught in traffic or someone has just really ticked you off, turning on the tub or stopping to zone out aren’t really options.

Cussing is:

• Simple to do
• Possible almost anywhere
• Free of cost
• Instantly gratifying

If you’re worried about upsetting others, you can always cuss in your head and offend no one.

Knowing When and Where

I agree that children should be shielded from harsh language. I have a 3-year-old daughter, and when I’m with her, it’s all “heck,” “shoot,” and “geez.”

But when she’s not around and I’m in private or with close friends, the closet cusser in me emerges.

That said, I can go days without cussing. When you first meet me, I censor my language. I probably won’t cuss in front of you for months.

Quality Over Quantity

Cussing shouldn’t be done just for the sake of it. I can’t stand movies or comedians where every other word is a cuss word — it lacks imagination.

Like anything else, overuse makes it lose its impact. But well-placed, well-chosen cuss words can be powerful. Just ask my husband — he knows how serious things are based on the words I choose.

Sharing the Stress Relief

I’ve even taught close friends how powerful and stress-reducing cussing can be. One friend rarely cussed before we met. Now, after years of friendship, she lets the words fly — much to the shock of her mild-mannered husband.

She even told me cussing works wonders in her marriage. Once, while visiting relatives, her husband refused to move from the couch. She swept by and hissed an unprintable directive. Later, she said, “In our 28 years of marriage, I’ve never seen him move so fast.”

The Cultural Context of Cussing

Some people still avoid “gutter” words, but I question the fuss. Words are what we make of them. We could have branded “phooey” or “fiddlesticks” as offensive, but we didn’t. If cuss words weren’t so stigmatized, maybe they wouldn’t feel so taboo when used.

Final Thoughts

I suggest that anyone who feels guilty about cussing let go of the shame. Try it. You might feel freer after releasing some stress with a few well-placed four-letter words.

And if you’ve lived a cuss-free life up to now, don’t knock it until you try it. The next time you’re upset, cuss all alone and see how much better you feel.

You never know — cussing might just become your calming influence. If not, well… I have a few things to say about that. But you’ll have to use your imagination.