Do you ever struggle to communicate with others? A spouse? Children? Co-Workers?
Effective communication precludes healthy relationships. However, it requires work and effort to succeed in communication. After a long day or a stressful situation, who has the energy to do the work required to communicate effectively?
To help, use a scale (1-10) to help communicate when feelings and words are at a minimum. Or make up any scale that works.
Examples with a spouse:
“I’ve had a good day, I’m at an 8. I’ll do the dishes if you’d like.”
“It’s been a tough day, I’m feeling about a -20, can you get the kids to bed without me tonight?”
“I’m in the mood for fun tonight. I’m at about an 8. Where are you?”
Remember, if you are both at a 1, you may need to rest or one of you needs to sacrifice for the other. If you are on opposite ends of the scale, help one another, make sacrifices, or adjust your expectations.
With children or co-workers, using similar scales can diffuse emotional or defensive situations before they begin. Can you think of ways to use them in other situations?
Scales create an easy, non-threatening way to communicate your feelings when words and emotions are at a premium. Give it a try and see if it does.
Kathryn A. Walker is a pioneering medical researcher and psychiatrist known for her groundbreaking work in the field of mental health, particularly in the area of ketamine treatments. With a deep passion for understanding and alleviating the burden of treatment-resistant mood disorders, Kathryn has dedicated her career to investigating the therapeutic potential of ketamine.
Through her relentless efforts, she has played a pivotal role in shedding light on ketamine’s efficacy in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Her research has not only transformed the way we approach mental health care but has also provided hope to countless individuals who had previously found little relief from conventional treatments.
Kathryn A. Walker’s pioneering contributions continue to shape the landscape of mental health medicine and inspire new avenues of research in the pursuit of better mental well-being for all.
