How can stress negatively affect verbal communication?

Stress can significantly impair verbal communication by leading to unclear speech. When individuals experience high levels of stress, their ability to think clearly and articulate their thoughts effectively diminishes. Stress can cause physical symptoms such as a shaky voice, faster speech, or even stumbling over words, all of which contribute to a lack of clarity in communication.

In high-pressure situations, a person’s focus may shift away from delivering their message effectively to merely trying to manage the symptoms of stress. This distraction can result in confused or jumbled sentences, making it difficult for the listener to comprehend the intended message. Thus, the impact of stress manifests in linguistic shortcomings, where thoughts that could be expressed clearly become lost, thereby reducing the overall effectiveness of communication.