By Liv Ainsworth, Sexperts
Communication is necessary to establishing healthy relationships and healthy boundaries with yourself and others.
For some folx, communication comes easily but that’s not true for everyone in every situation. Many of us can get overwhelmed with our emotions and have a hard time communicating in those moments.
Taking time to step away from that emotional space can be an effective tool when you’re trying to clearly communicate, and can help you come to a place where you understand your feelings and the other person’s feelings better.
Communicating our feelings and needs is a vulnerable act that can set us up for happiness and success.
Check out some commonly talked about communication styles: passive, assertive, and aggressive.
Many of us have been taught to think of communication in these three categories, but they are overly simplistic, rooted in racist norms around “acceptable” behavior, and gloss over how trauma informs and affects our communication styles.
That said, passive and aggressive communication can be effective in situations where someone feels unsafe and can also come up when someone is feeling triggered.
Youth Engagement Coordinator, Andrew, at Project PAVE discusses Assertive Communication.
When you’re starting to have sex with someone, you’re probably very excited and full of anticipation. But before you get started, there are a few things you should talk about if you’re having sex. It may seem unromantic to stop and have a discussion before you get down to it, but talking openly is crucial.