What's in a name: incontinence briefs, or diapers?

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Fri, April 25, 2008

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When purchasing incontinence supplies, I am often struck by the "briefs" label used by virtually every brand, retailer, and online store. For myself, I never think of the products as briefs. They are clearly adult-sized diapers, and a large majority of incontinence supprt group/forum contributors refer to them as diapers.

So why the "briefs" label? I assume it is to reduce the stigma for product users, as if store clerks and other shoppers won't realize what they are. For me, I think this may actually increase stigma, since it implies that adult diapers are too horrible to acknowledge. Maybe a Wal-Mart shelf with an adult diapers label would make it clearer that incontinence is not all that unusual.

Just my two cents... What do you think?

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Maria Gifford

4/27/08 9:06pm

Craig,

Get point you make about adult "diapers" vs. "briefs" and the effect this terminology might have on how we think about incontinence. See:

Stigma and Incontinence

http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/45/1653/stigma/

Thanks for another great post. Keep writing.

Best,

Maria

Ron

4/29/08 3:37pm

Hi yes the word seems to take the place of diapers which has the stigma label on it. I have slowly overcame the word diaper.

Anonymous

5/ 2/08 8:46am

Hi'i think your absolutely right on,they are adult diapers'no ifs,buts,about it,briefs?Tighty whiteys are briefs,my diapers don't look like briefs.

matt

5/10/08 9:35am

I wish I felt as confident as you do about wearing diapers. I think calling them briefs makes it easier to accept them as an undergarment, just like underwear or monthly protection for women. At night I need protection. I feel embaressed enough standing in line and checking out with a bag of briefs. I guess I have alot of issues to get over. I am 31 and grew up with this problem. I think alot of people might know how it feels to still look your parents and siblings in the eye and try to feel like a man. I think I should spend more time learning and shareing about the subject, instead of beating myself up about it. I am glad I found this blog. Advice? I have been in denial.

Ron

5/15/08 12:38pm

Hi Matt yes I beat myself up about incontinence and needing to wear diapers took a few yrs to come to terms with it was in denial would have accidents which would kick you in the face.No matter what you call them they are diapers but you are no less a man.I wear glasses to see and diapers to keep dry.

Bill

5/28/08 1:49pm

Matt

Keep a stiff upper lip. I'm 64 and for the last year and half I have had to wear an adult diaper and plastic pants to bed most evenings. My wife has accepted the fact even when I do have an accident - moisture to a good wetness about once a week and a full use of my diaper with an insert about once a month. I just quietly take care of the wet diaper in the morning and go about my business.

Look at it this way - Save the Bed and anyone else that might share it with you.

You can also do a Google search - there are lots of places that will discreatly ship you your incontinent needs.

Anonymous23

5/21/09 3:47pm

Your comment struck me because "beat myself up" is exactly what my counselor says I do over my own incont issues...

Anonymous23

5/21/09 3:49pm

Your comment struck me because "beat myself up" is exactly what my counselor says I do over my own incont issues...

Cap

12/ 7/10 5:11pm

Matt.. HERE IS YOUR ANSWER.. it is so simple Matt.. NO ONE .. NO HUMAN BEING.. knows WHO you are buying the briefs/pads/absorbent products/diapers for.. so when you purchase them.. just think to yourself : I am buying these NOT for myself.. but for: my aging mother.. my aging father.. my injured siblings.. etc.. NEVER Matt for you..

Bill Morris

5/28/08 1:37pm

I have the same problem - I guess it is new speak. I call them diapers plain and simple. Some time I call them "Incontinent Products) when I am speaking to my doctor - He seems uncomfortable when I say adult diaper. I am Diabetic and from time to time have what is called Diabetic Incontinence and add my Lunesta sleeping pill I can struggle in the early morning to get up and pee. When I do wake up I'm wet - My disposable diaper saved the bed! This happens about once or twice a month. I wear my "diaper" about almost every night.

Brad

6/ 4/08 5:41pm

I have youth diapers and plastic pants for bedwetting. We've always called them diapers, but it bugs me when my bro refers to my plastic pants as 'baby pants'. Sometimes my Mom does too. Doesn't matter, I guess.

Anonymous

1/ 7/09 9:27pm

A while ago I was talking to someone who had been dealing with incont longer than I had about a problem with the "absorbent brief" I was using, and the immediate response was "You mean with your diaper?"

I had been scared to use the word "diaper", and I was a little shocked that they weren't.

JEFFERY WOODARD

3/22/09 11:49am

I THINK IT IS SILLY TO AND I WORK FOR WALMART MYSELF AND I BUY MY DIAPERS ON PAYDAY OF COURSE AND NOBODY SAYS BOO ABOUT IT ANYWAY AND SOMETIMES WHEN I AM WORKING MY DIAPERS STICK OUT OF MY JEANS, BUT I THINK IT IS A BETTER THAN WALKING AROUND WITH A BIG WET SPOT ON YOUR JEANS DON"T YOU THINK? WHERE ARE YOU ? I AM IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Joey Simmons

10/ 2/09 5:14pm

I agree, living with these problems can be difficult. I found this site with cheap adult diapers:

http://www.vitalitymedical.com/Catalog/Briefs-77-.html

Hope this helps,

Joey

What's in a name: incontinence briefs, or diapers?

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