Can Anxiety Cause Speech Problems?
With more than 4 million Americans living with an anxiety disorder of some kind, understanding the impacts of these disorders on communication and daily life is increasingly important. An anxiety disorder can come with a variety of symptoms, from chronic headaches, debilitating fatigue, and significant GI issues to challenges interacting with others and communicating effectively in different environments.
Many individuals with anxiety disorders struggle to speak clearly and fluently when interacting with those around them, find it challenging to control the rate and volume of their speech, and express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings in an appropriate and clear manner.
If you or someone you love is struggling to communicate effectively due to anxiety, get essential help and support now by scheduling your free introductory call today!
Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to the presence of stress in the body, and in some situations, this reaction can be beneficial. Anxiety can help us to become aware of situations that may be dangerous and alert us to be prepared and attentive to our surroundings.
Anxiety disorders differ from normal experiences of anxiety, nervousness, or fear in the sense that these feelings are chronic, excessive, and debilitating. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, and there is a wide range of treatment options that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead normal and productive lives.
How Does Anxiety Impact Communication?
Chronic or persistent anxiety can negatively impact the cognitive (or ‘thinking’) element of speech production, as well as the physical processes required for speaking. When we become anxious, we experience increased tension within the body, including in the face, lips, tongue, and jaw. This increased muscular tension can create variations in how certain speech sounds are produced and affect the fluency, rate, volume, and clarity of speech. Excess tension in the tongue and mouth can make it difficult to produce some sounds accurately, making speech sound slurred or difficult to understand.
Individuals with anxiety also often experience racing thoughts, making it difficult for them to speak as quickly as their thoughts are flowing. As a result, they may increase their rate of speech to ‘catch up’ with their thoughts, which can also cause stuttering or slurred speech. Variations in speech and communication challenges related to anxiety tend to be more pronounced among those with other speech and language challenges.
It is important to remember, however, that anxiety affects people in a wide variety of ways, and how anxiety affects speech can vary widely from case to case. Some individuals may not experience any communication challenges or disruptions, while others may struggle to communicate at all when experiencing anxiety.
While anxiety is a common and natural response to stress, for some people, anxiety becomes chronic, excessive, and disruptive to their daily lives. If you’re struggling with anxiety that’s negatively impacting your speech, get help now by scheduling your free introductory call today!
Anxiety Induced Speech Disorders
Sometimes, severe and chronic anxiety can cause symptoms that closely resemble those seen in certain speech disorders, such as stuttering or slurred speech. Slurred speech that is caused by anxiety is not the same as slurred speech due to a motor speech disorder such as dysarthria. Generally speaking, instances of slurred speech due to anxiety are relatively rare.
In some cases, anxiety can result in the development of a stutter. Stuttering itself is a distinct speech disorder; however, frequent or severe anxiety can worsen this condition. When an individual finds themselves feeling anxious and subsequently overthinking, sentences and word choices often become unclear, and a significant stutter can develop. This, in turn, can result in increased feelings of embarrassment or shame, heightening anxiety and creating a cycle that can be difficult to break.
Social Anxiety Communication
Sometimes, anxiety directly affects an individual’s ability to interact with others in public and social situations. This is known as a social anxiety disorder, and it can cause an individual to experience extreme anxiety when feeling uncomfortable or unsure in a particular environment. Symptoms of social anxiety disorder cause individuals to feel fearful of social speaking, meeting new people, exploring new environments, and, in some cases, even eating or drinking in public places.
Overcoming Speech Anxiety Techniques
Because speech anxiety can affect communication in many different ways, there are also many varied approaches to managing and overcoming anxiety related to speech. Some of the best techniques for overcoming speech anxiety include:
Let Those Around You Know: By simply telling those you are interacting with that you struggle with anxiety and communication, they will likely meet you with understanding and compassion. This can help alleviate anxiety and its symptoms, as pretending not to feel anxious when you actually do can increase the severity and frequency of related speech problems.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Clarification or Repetition: If you find yourself struggling to focus on the conversation due to anxiety symptoms, remember it is always okay to ask for clarification or for the individual to repeat themselves. Many individuals find themselves becoming more anxious because they missed something or misunderstood something that was said. Don’t be afraid to ask again and create another opportunity to listen and understand.
Limit Overthinking: If you are someone who struggles with anxiety, you know that over-thinking is a common occurrence and is often difficult to prevent. Try to quiet your mind and avoid the temptation to rehearse or script everything you say before you say it. Remember that everyone slips up and makes mistakes when communicating, and there is no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed when this happens.
Practice Makes Perfect: The more frequently you engage in conversations with others, the more confident and secure you will feel in unfamiliar environments. Practice communicating with someone close to you that you trust and feel comfortable around. Take your time when responding and allow yourself grace, even when you are struggling to communicate.
Try Relaxation Techniques: Simple relaxation techniques have been shown to help individuals with anxiety manage their symptoms and regain some control over their nervous systems. “Box breathing” is a popular technique in which you inhale for 6 seconds, hold for 6 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds, and wait for 6 seconds before starting again with an inhale. This creates a ‘box’ with 4 even ‘sides,’ and it can be helpful to visualize this box as you practice the technique. By controlling your breathing, you effectively slow your heart rate and regain a sense of control, leading to a calmer mental state.
How Can Speech Therapy Help with Speech Anxiety?
Speech therapy for anxiety provides a tailored and targeted approach for individuals experiencing speech problems related to anxiety. The goal of working with an experienced speech and language pathologist is to establish improved communication skills, manage symptoms and related communication problems, and reduce feelings of anxiety in public or social situations. Virtual speech therapy for anxiety uses a variety of methods and approaches to identify and treat speech problems, establish appropriate goals, and provide techniques to reduce anxiety and improve communication. Contact us today for your free introductory call and get connected with a registered speech pathologist to start on your path to better communication.