Tense Communication?
Sometimes it is just difficult to talk face-to-face, whether it’s a romantic relationship or a parent-child relationship. When tensions are up in a conversation, some feel more defensive, some take on an aggressive mood, and others just shut down or withdraw.
At these times, it helps to change the way you are communicating. You may be thinking changing communication means “I need to do a better job of listening” or “I should be more clear in how I say things“. These ideas are definitely important. There is also more you can do.
Try changing the form of communication for a while if the in-person strategies aren’t working. Emailing or hand-writing a note allows a person to read at a pace that is comfortable, and allows time to respond rationally instead of “in the moment”. This can work with romantic relationships (just in time for Valentine’s Day!), and in parent-child communication. Once in a while, even friendships can benefit from switching things up.
