Non-verbal communication

[PurpleOverlord]

My old self was a scientific writer, so complicated language was my natural habitat. But like many of you, I find words more difficult as Purple v2.

I think it's the huge amount of input/output involved with conversation. You have to listen to what's being said, process it and reply in real time. So it's really hard work and drains energy fast.

When I first came home after my coma, I sometimes found myself wishing I was blind or deaf. Took a while to figure out, but I realised I was overwhelmed by sight or sound at those times and just needed to shut my eyes or cover my ears.

Okay, I've been trying to write this for a couple of hours now and I'm giving up for today. But the main point is, despite being very verbal in my previous life, I seriously prefer non-verbal communication now. A smile, a wave, a hand gesture. I communicate with animals much better in my new format!

Has anyone else found the same thing?

[gr33nmind]

I received my college degree in Communications just prior to my injury. In 1994 I suffered a a hemorage followed by extended hypothermia, and hypoxia. I will have some difficulties coming up with word in my head, but I think my difficulty is probably different then yours. My ability to communicate, at least through the written medium hasn't been largely affected. I have even done some volunteer newsletter writing post injury. My difficulty with communication is physical in nature and occurs because of my speech. Over the Christmas break, I probably only said about ten words. Trying to get others to understand what I am trying to convey, is a chore, and so I have become a consumate listener.

[1949liz]

hi purple I’m so sorry to hear about the difficulties you are having. I suffer from foreign accent syndrome due to violence from my now ex-husband. I have seen speech therapist and she explained to me that the brain is extremely complex but very clever. I find it hard to speak like I did before in fact my voice will never come back so I’m with a voice that I am sort of getting used to but the one thing I miss, I used to sing. I was a in my church choirI love singing when he was out,shopping I used to sing out to the radio. I can’t do that anymore Lorraine my speech therapist explained a simple way of looking at things in the brain. If you think of your brain as wires and when you can’t find a word the brain seeks to find another word, and it’s like the wires searching when it finds the word you speak it. I have on my computer a speech microphone, but even that does not recognise my words. It’s difficult I see the word in my mind and I speak it and it doesn’t come out the way I want. My son Mark tells me, Mum slow down calm down that's what I have to do. It’s so frustrating I feel so sorry for you, my therapist told me to embrace my new voice. I want my old voice back. But it won’t come I wish you well and I pray for you in time your brain will heal and you might get your. voice back. Take care God bless Liz.

[PurpleOverlord in reply to 1949liz]

Hi Liz, I was a singer too, so I understand how lovely it used to be to sing my way through the world. I've got long Covid lung damage too, so breathing out is difficult to sustain. When I'm out on walks in the wild I subject the poor butterflies to enthusiastic singing. Instead of worrying about it or concentrating on the notes, I sing along to the 80s ballads that my headphones are playing. I figure that's how I developed my voice and breathing ability in the first place. So I might as well go back to the same technique!

[WonderingWanda]

I find conversations draining too. I used to be a health professional and prided myself in being able to communicate complex concepts with people and was always told that I made things easy to understand. I actively enjoy conversations and find people interesting. However that is one of the most exhausting things for me now so I have to ration encounters.

Interestingly there are some people who drain me more than others when I spend time talking to them. The less I have to explain things the better. I do sit and listen more and not try to compete at family gatherings for my chance to chip in.

WandaV2 is a much better listener and I do value time with people, although it’s rationed.

[PurpleOverlord in reply to WonderingWanda]

Yup, I've got better at listening too. So much easier to do than joining in! My mum is in the 'constant chip in' crowd, so she was hard work over Christmas.