Having effective communication is an essential aspect of maintaining healthy relationships. Everyone needs the ability to communicate their needs. If you struggle with this, know that you are not alone. Consider working with a mental health professional to better understand that struggle, particularly why you may be struggling with communication. As you begin your journey of healing and discovery, here are a few ways you can start to communicate more effectively.
Think Through Your Thoughts
If you have the opportunity to process your thoughts ahead of time, think about all of the points you want to make. How are you feeling? What points do you want to stress? What is the most effective word choice you can use?
Be Direct
Being direct when you communicate is crucial to being fully understood. Frequently disagreements occur when people assume that the other person understands the meaning behind their words. Be straightforward with your feelings and your words; say what you mean.
Consider Your Body Language
The speaker’s body language can directly impact how other people interpret the words they hear. Think about how your body language affects how other people interpret what you say. Are you an expressive talker when it comes to body language? Do people interpret your emotions correctly? If other people are struggling to know your genuine emotions because of your body language, then that is something you may want to work on further.
Maintain Eye Contact
Eye contact is an integral part of a good conversation. For many, maintaining eye contact can be something that is hard to do. Do you struggle with your self-esteem? What about your confidence? These things can come across with the eye contact you make or don’t make. Work with a mental health professional to understand your struggles with making eye contact. There is a good chance that there are deeper rooted issues or struggles that emerge through your lack of eye contact.
Learning to communicate effectively is a skill that everyone needs to master. As you learn to communicate more effectively, consider how your body language and eye contact affect how your words are interpreted. You may also want to practice thinking your thoughts through and be direct and straightforward with what you say. Here at The Guest House, we are ready to help you learn more about your struggles and how best to overcome them. Call us today to learn more about our treatment options at (855) 483-7800.