Mental Health and Communication: The Way You Think Can Shape Your Life

The quality of mental wellness is closely linked to the quality, or lack thereof, of our communication. You may be asking, how? What does communication have to do with mental well-being? Stay with me.

For most people, behaviour originates from thought patterns, except in cases of severe neurological impairment. Our thoughts influence our emotions, which will impact our behaviour—including how we communicate. Communication is more than just speaking with others; it includes how we express ourselves, and this begins within the mind.

As humans, we mostly engage  in two major forms of communication:

• Intrapersonal communication: using our inner voice, which influences our values, beliefs, and self-image.

• Interpersonal communication: includes using body language, social interactions, and words when speaking to other people.

It is important to recognise that the quality of our intrapersonal communication directly influences our interpersonal interactions, indicating that our self-perception impacts our behaviour towards others. A key concept in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are linked, showing that negative thought patterns can result in emotional suffering and unhelpful behaviours. For instance, when individuals participate in negative self-talk—constantly reminding themselves that they are inadequate, incompetent, or fated to fail—it directly influences their emotional well-being, possibly resulting in anxiety, stress, or even depression. In contrast, studies on positive emotions (Fredrickson, 2001) indicate that nurturing positivity enhances emotional resilience, which corresponds with the advantages of constructive self-talk.

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When you engage in self-talk—whether it’s a motivational speech or a negative thought—you are essentially supplying your brain with information that affects its forecasts. These forecasts, consequently, influence your feelings and direct your reactions to the environment surrounding you. For instance, if you repeatedly say to yourself, I’m not sufficient, your mind might expect failure in upcoming scenarios, leading to feelings of anxiety or sadness. Conversely, positive self-talk can prepare your mind to foresee success, resulting in feelings like confidence and enthusiasm.

Controlling and redefining our thoughts enables us to foster a more positive emotional atmosphere. This does not imply disregarding reality or acting as if everything is okay, but instead reshaping difficulties in a manner that fosters development rather than self-sabotage

Talk to yourself with the same compassion you would offer a close friend.

So, where do you begin? Think about these approaches:

• Engaging in Cognitive Reframing: Question negative thoughts and substitute them with healthier viewpoints. Rather than stating, “I’m a failure,” consider saying, “I didn’t achieve success this time, but I can gain insights from it.”

• Practicing Positive Self-Talk: Talk to yourself with the same compassion and support you would provide to a friend.

• Reducing Harmful Triggers: Minimize contact with harmful surroundings, individuals, or media that support negative views of oneself

Finally, do not wait until emotional distress becomes unbearable before getting professional assistance. Since our internal emotional states and outward behaviours are closely related, our view of ourselves frequently affects how we interact with the outside world. When we change how we see ourselves and our self-talk, we are able to make significant progress towards improving our mental well-being.

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Oluwaseun Dawodu

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