when were you Struggling with our mental health, there is often a message to communicate. to talk about it. But when we struggle to find the words we need to describe our thoughts and feelings, speaking feels very difficult.
Struggling with words
It is often difficult to put thoughts and feelings into words. It becomes more difficult when brain fog strikes or worry It creates so much noise in our brain that we lose a sentence halfway. Even if we can put sentences together, language limitations sometimes mean that the “correct” words are simply not available to us. None of them seem to adequately describe how we feel.
Our minds may be racing so fast that we can’t pick up the words we need. Instead, it could have been completely empty. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to make sense of the complex web of interactions in our heads that we stumble and stumble trying to explain everything. When talking to others, we may become so anxious that they understand our interpretation, that we exaggerate things and confuse things even more.
Speech production can add another hurdle. We may struggle to speak when feeling upset, outwardly silent, talking minimally, or not being able to speak at all. Inability to speak and inability to speak are not the same thing. Often, we can still understand and produce language, just not through speech. This may be for psychological or physical reasons.
Over-reliance on words
When Get mental health supportSometimes, you may feel that there is an over-reliance on words. To arrange an appointment with a GP, we often have to speak to a receptionist, then a triage nurse. Once we make an appointment, we are usually expected to explain the reason for our visit.
When people discuss mental health in the media, they often talk about it Helpline ringing. Various numbers appear on our phones or run along the bottom of the TV screen. Helplines are great and undoubtedly saving lives, but they can be unreachable if we struggle with words.
If we receive support from the mental health team, they will often talk to us on the phone or in person, but either way, the words are usually expected. We might be encouraged to write our thoughts down – something that can be really helpful, but not when we don’t have the words to write.
Most practitioners and loved ones are more interested in understanding our communication than the way we communicate. They are not usually concerned with producing “perfect” sentences, and may accept alternative forms of communication, such as artwork, word lists, mood trackerAnd the writingor memoirs. Unfortunately, although the answer is often “naturally!”In many cases, we will need to ask about, or suggest, communicate in this way.
We talk but not communicate
Sometimes we can talk and talk, but we feel it We don’t communicate. It’s almost like the really hard stuff is locked behind a wall. We cannot open a line of communication from there to the outside world. We can try really hard to explain things but feel like we’re screaming from behind a soundproof wall.
Struggling to communicate the extent of our thoughts and feelings can prevent us from getting the help we need. From our point of view, we might think that we made it clear how awful and Unsafe We feel it, but the depth of these feelings may not reach the person we are talking to. This can be stressful and feel completely invalidating.
It may be helpful to take the time to regroup and then try to address this with the person. Sometimes we don’t feel like we can do it, but there may be someone we can trust who can help defend us. Alternatively, we might be able to write it down (even if it takes us a few weeks of editing!).
Open or closed questions
Different questions come with different difficulty levels when we are struggling with word search. An open question, like “How are you?” Searching for words takes a lot more than “How did you sleep last night?”And the “Are you brushing your teeth at the moment?” or “Have you taken your medicine this morning?”.
If closed questions are easier, we can explain. When someone starts a conversation with an open question, we can respond to it “That’s too broad, I don’t know how to answer that now – could you please elaborate?‘, or similar.
Alternative Communication
Talking is not the only way to communicate.
art, AACBody language, sign language, macaton, dance, emoji, hugs, music, and writing are all ways to share feelings. None of these things have to be a masterpiece. They don’t have to be “good” or “perfect”; There is no perfect way to express ourselves because we are all different.
Although some of these methods of communication still require word searches, they do not take the same stress as a conversation would. We have more time to think and look for words or go back and adjust things. We may find it helpful to mix and match words with pictures or sounds.
There is also no rule for saying that we have to invent the words ourselves. Sharing poems, poems, books, quotesBlogs that resonate with us are ways to share feelings without the pressure to put words or sentences together. As long as we prefer others, it is okay to express ourselves through loanwords.
Sometimes words are so hard, and we don’t really want or need them. A hug can tell us as much, if not more, a conversation about how the day was. With our loved ones, we may be able to pick up on signals of body language, tone of voice, and subtle changes in behavior. Likewise, they may notice these things in us.
advanced planning
If we know that communication is difficult, whether it’s all the time or just when we’re in distress, advanced planning can help.
Playing with different forms of connection to find those things that work best for us can take trial and error. When we find a method of communication that we like, practicing it can help improve our confidence in using it. For example, if we find out that messing around is our thing, we may find it doodle a day It helps us feel more empowered when using it to express ourselves.
Calling cards can be very useful. These cards are pre-written and allow us to communicate at times when language and/or speaking abilities are impaired. Sometimes reducing the pressure to find words can make word search easier.
If we are under a mental health team, we may find it helpful to include our preferred communication style(s) in crisis plan. If an unfamiliar employee works with us, then this information will be available to them.
With friends or family, emoticons can work brilliantly. For example, a specific emoji means that I’m suffering and I don’t have words now but I really need [thing]”. It takes the pressure off trying to explain things in tough times.
Treat
Sometimes, we have the words, but we don’t feel able to use them. This can be a conscious or unconscious thing. We may not realize how much we can describe, or want to share because these words are hidden behind a wall of fear, anxiety and shame.
Even though we may know we don’t need to be shy, we’re not alone, and people do care, it’s still hard. The truth is that talking about our thoughts and feelings is weak. It’s not easy. Sometimes we spend so much time building trust with someone before we can find the words we need, and that’s okay.
In the meantime, it can help to find a way to tackle everything, just for ourselves, whether it’s scribbling furiously in a notepad, putting some coloring on the page, or Growing Garden Care While we flip things on our minds.
We may find, especially if our brain feels slower than usual, that we think of words days after a conversation has occurred. Writing these words while remembering them, either as a note to bring the next time we see someone, or in a message to send to them, can be very helpful.
Get help when words are tough.
Struggling with words can create a barrier when Get help.
Fortunately, many helplines now offer text-based options, and Some even offer sign language. Although this may be easier said than done about these options, it can be tricky when the words are hard to come by.
Email or messaging options may allow us to include GIFs, images, music or quotes. We may find it helpful to think of some stock phrases at a time when we are feeling well, and then pull them up when needed. It wouldn’t be possible to think of a stored phrase for every situation we might ever encounter, but a somewhat incomplete request for help is better than struggling alone. By saving these phrases somewhere like the Notes app on the phone, they can serve as a basis to build on and tweak them a bit before you send them.
Perfect words don’t exist
However we choose to move forward, it is important to remember that there is no such thing as a perfect combination of words. In fact, there is no such thing as perfect communication with or without words. The way we choose to express ourselves must be appropriate for us. This is something that will be different for different people.
Please help us to help others and share this post, you never know who might need it.
Discussion about this post