A Guide to Working on Communication if You Struggle with Anxiety

Anxiety can be a tough symptom to manage as it makes it difficult to recognise and communicate your own needs.

If you're starting out on your healing journey and need some tips for communicating, this guide may be useful for you.

In this blog post we will get into identifying your triggers, finding coping strategies and the importance of being patient with yourself.

Anxiety can make it feel impossible to put into words what feels so intricate and complex in the mind. It can feel impossible to know where to start but one step at a time, starting with awareness, we can begin to uncover the root causes of our worries, in order to start finding the solutions.

Here are a few tips for working on your communication skills when dealing with anxiety:

Understand Your Triggers

The first step is to identify what triggers your anxiety. Do certain topics of conversations make you feel uneasy? Are there certain environments or situations that make you feel more anxious? Once you understand the things that trigger your anxiety, you can begin to work on how you handle them and eventually, how you communicate.

Learn Relaxation Techniques

Before and after establishing your triggers, it is important to find relaxation techniques that work for you when you're feeling anxious and/or overwhelmed. Take some time to practice different relaxation strategies, such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, meditation and mindfulness. With practice, this will help you stay calm and focused during conversations you have and make it easier to communicate your needs.

Practice Mindfulness

Self-awareness is key when it comes to communicating. It's important to take a few moments before a conversation to check in with yourself and see how you're feeling. Are you feeling anxious or overwhelmed? If so, take a few deep breaths and practice some of the relaxation techniques you've been working on. This will help you stay grounded and centered throughout the conversation.

Start Small

It can be helpful to take baby steps. Begin with conversations that are less intimidating and try to practice the techniques you've been working on. As you become more comfortable, you can gradually increase the difficulty level of conversations and practice your communication skills in more challenging situations.

Be Patient With Yourself

It's really important to be patient with yourself. This work can be a long, sometimes lifelong process and it's important to remember that it's okay to make mistakes.

Don't be too hard on yourself and take note of the progress you've made, no matter how small. With practice and patience, you'll eventually be able to communicate your needs in a confident, healthy and assertive way.

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The language we use fundamentally shapes our reality, the more mindful you become about the value you place on words and the way you use them, the more clarity you will experience.

I know effective communication can be a challenge when you have anxiety, but it is possible to work on it and make progress.

By understanding your triggers and finding healthy ways to cope, you can work on your communication skills and become more confident in your ability to recognise, understand and express your needs.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to get in touch, contact me by emailing perceptionsbypaige@gmail.com