Feeling Unheard

Posted on August 30, 2021

I struggle with speaking up and sometimes feel unheard or ignored. It’s really hard for me to say what I think fast enough to keep up with the conversation. I’m so busy finding the right words that the moment has passed. When I do get the words out, it’s important to me to feel acknowledged even if the person disagrees. I wonder if what I’m experiencing happens to a lot of other people both on or off of the Autism Spectrum.

What can I do about my hurt feelings? Understanding and acknowledging why I feel the way I do is important. The feelings are real so it takes time to experience the emotions, then I need to move on so I’m in the present. I really don’t know how long it will take to start doing this but I think it’s important for me to learn how to do this.

I also need to practice the skill of active listening to people who are talking. Not speaking at the same time is the first step but there is a lot more to it. Paying attention to the person’s body language, tone of voice, choice of words, and the environment around us at that moment are all vital steps.

Nice words and thoughts but I need to apply this to my life and realize I can’t control other people’s reactions. I think the experience of feeling unheard is pretty common which is unfortunate since I think that many misunderstandings and problems in the world stem from this. Best wishes to my readers, as always.