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What is Healthy and UnHealthy Communication?
Healthy Communication:
- Respect your partner: Show empathy
- Give your partner the benefit of the doubt
- Make communication time a priority, Listen actively
- Maintain eye contact (as much as is possible)
- Maintain a clear perspective of the past, present & future
- Be honest and don't assume anything. When in doubt ask for more information
- Take time out if things get too intense, but always agree to come back and talk about the feelings.
- Refrain from blaming or shaming
- Use "I" statements I feel, I hear, I see... "you" statements are pointing the finger, and will usually result in defensive responses
UnHealthy Communication
- Shows resentment, is inflexible
- Withdrawals both emotionally and physically, blames the other person
- Escalates discussions into arguments, evades important issues
- Is dishonest
- Does not communicate ...talks "at", not "to"
- Assumes the partner knows your desires, thoughts and needs, and is angry when they get it wrong
- Spends more time interrupting, rather then listening
