Communication is one of the most critical aspects of recovery
Communication is one of the most critical aspects of recovery. Whether you are recovering from an addiction or coping with mental health disorders, accurate communication is essential to addressing the roots of many problems that you may face. However, being able to communicate is a skill that requires practice and is more than merely talking. Communication can frame your treatment. The words you choose can be their own glimpse into the mindset of a person suffering from addiction or mental health disorders.
Allowing Yourself to Use Your Voice
Communication is deliberate. Before you can look at the various skills involved in effective communication, there has to be a use of voice. A clear and intentional voice is difficult to come by. Due to the nature of many mental health disorders, you may go into a conversation expecting to be misunderstood. Allowing yourself to be understood and heard involves a degree of agency in your voice.
Not only are there strategies needed for effective communication, there is a confidence necessary to raise one’s voice with honesty and purpose. There are several ways to improve your voice, even outside of a therapeutic setting. Disagreeing on dinner plans or which movie to see are exercises in confidently raising your voice to make your opinions heard, thus expressing their desires and personality.
Power of Vocalizing Stresses
There will be stress at seemingly every turn during recovery. You are attempting to reconceptualize your world view and putting together a roadmap for your future. As a result, a lot is going on during this time. Being able to raise your voice and verbally express the issues plaguing you is a valuable tool. Simply expressing the stress you’re suffering can prove to be a healing experience. It can take the pressures that have been building up inside you and get them out. When you are confronting these stresses, you can find a way to look at the problem rather than suffer in silence.
Expression and Word Choice
Expression requires confidence in the person listening. As a result, there is a degree of trust needed to have a confident, honest conversation. However, speaking carries its own challenges. To express how you feel, you need to understand your feelings. This can be as simple as knowing that you are angry, or understanding that you are feeling a mix of undefinable emotions.
The diction requires practice, as not everyone will understand each other without trying different ways of explaining things. Finding your voice requires practicing different ways to express your emotions. This will also help you understand your emotional state.
Focus on Word Choice
When you are talking, subject matter and word choice are of utmost importance. Someone speaking in binaries and harsh language can indicate specific struggles. Someone carrying on with more fluid communication may be indicating growth and acceptance. Words like “never” and “definitely” can be warning signs that you must evaluate your situation and analyze your mindset going forward.
Body Language is a Crucial Part of Communication
The words you choose are as important as the way that you hold yourself during conversations. Posture and eye contact provide insight into your mental state and emotions. Difficult times may lead you to physically block yourself off with body language like crossed arms or avoidant eye contact. Holding yourself upright can instill the sense of confidence that you need to begin expressing yourself.
Voice is one of the most critical aspects of recovery. Being able to express your feelings is paramount in addressing them directly and effectively. While voice is an elusive skill that needs practice, it paves the way for you to discover your new identity.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders, Alta Centers provides a safe space to take the first steps into sobriety. Finding your voice in recovery is a complicated process, but a necessary one. Alta Centers champions the community and inclusion aspects of recovery in an effort for each individual to set their own goals. Alta Centers specialize in detox and establishing essential life skills, like practicing voice, for each person to remain an active, healthy member of their communities. If you have any questions about the programs available or would like to schedule an intake appointment, contact Alta Centers today at (888) 202-2583.
