Member-only story
We’re all taught to listen, but what if we don’t know how to talk?
It doesn’t come easily for some of us
The most common advice when it comes to helping and supporting other people is to just listen. Just listen to others, because everyone needs an ear sometimes. A huge part of my job, since I’m in mental health, is listening. Clients, managers, colleagues, all of whom have something to say, and so many of us are ready to listen. It comes naturally.
You know what doesn’t come naturally for some of us? Talking.
I regularly find myself in awe of others’ ability to talk about themselves. I’m surrounded by it every day, whether I’m being paid to listen or they’re being paid to talk, other people are able to spill their souls in such detail while I find it impossible to open my mouth.
I don’t remember when I began to notice it, only that at some point this year I became aware that I find talking about myself almost unbearable, even when I know it’s something I need to do, while others don’t appear to have the same issue.
There are a whole lot of reasons why this could be — my upbringing, in which talking about negative feelings was a hard no, being Autistic and so not really knowing when I’m supposed to talk or what is appropriate anyway, or low self-esteem making me feel that…
