Handling Confrontation
So idk if this counts as anxiety or not lol but I've been having luck on here so far and figured I should try. Does anyone here have any steps to handle confrontation and anxieties regarding that? The thought of someone getting angry and screaming at me makes me clam up and burst into tears if I so much as try to talk to them about something serious. I'm not an intimidating person. I'm short with a high voice and I already feel bad if I'm not nice to someone, but I have all this pain and anger in me built up from people who have hurt me the last few years, and I don't know how to tell them, or if I even should. Even though I'm the one who's angry right now, if I were to hypothetically talk to them, if they argued with me I wouldn't be able to handle them all at once. I'd break down and backtrack and just swallow my feelings again.
I want to talk to them because I want to fix my communication. I want to be able to talk openly with people, and fix problems, and try to move forward in healthy relationships. But right now the only option I can see is to cut them off, move away, and never speak to them again. Not because I hate them or can't forgive them, but to show how serious I am about everything, since I tried to tell them in the past and they didn't seem to listen/believe me.
And truthfully, I feel miserable every time I see them. I feel like I'm suffocating.
@HidaYasu
Hi, Hida,
You're not alone in feeling anxious and intimidated when it comes to confrontation or having difficult conversations. It can be tough to convey our feelings, especially when we're afraid of how others will react. But it's important to remember that communication is a crucial part of any relationship, and that it's essential to be able to express ourselves in a way that's honest and respectful.
Here are some tips for handling confrontation and anxieties regarding it:
♡🦁🌹Prepare: Before having a difficult conversation, take the time to gather your thoughts and prepare what you want to say. Write down your feelings and concerns and practice expressing them in a clear and concise manner
♡🦁🌹Be assertive: Assertiveness is about expressing oneself in a way that is clear, direct and respectful. It's important to take responsibility for our own emotions and feelings, as well as respecting the feelings of others.
♡🦁🌹Be open to compromise: Compromise is a crucial part of any conflict resolution. It's important to be open to finding a solution that works for both parties, rather than just one.
♡🦁🌹Be honest: It's important to be honest when having a difficult conversation, but it's also important to be mindful of how we express our feelings. It's possible to be honest without being hurtful.
♡🦁🌹Listen actively: Active listening is a key component of effective communication. It's important to listen to the other person without interrupting or judging them.
♡🦁🌹Be empathetic: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It's important to try to see things from the other person's perspective, and to understand their feelings and motivations.
♡🦁🌹Practice self-awareness: Being aware of our own emotions and reactions can help us to better manage our responses in difficult situations. It's important to take a moment to reflect on our feelings and thoughts, and to consider how we want to respond.
These are just a few tips to help you navigate difficult conversations. Remember that communication is an ongoing process and requires patience, practice and self-awareness. It's important to be open and honest, but also to respect the feelings and opinions of others.
Good luck!
Love ♡ and Courage 🦁, Tas 🌹
These are all great tips! Only other idea I had would be to write a letter first and share it with them beforehand so you can then go over the points with them. Let us know how it goes!