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Understanding Emotional Barriers within the Course of
Communication
Dr. Radhika Kapur
Abstract
Within one’s lives, the individuals belonging to various age groups, categories and
backgrounds experience positive as well as negative emotions. Happiness is regarded as the
positive emotion, whereas, the psychological problems of anger, frustration, stress,
depression, anxiety, trauma, and pride are regarded as negative emotions. When these
feelings impose barriers within the course of implementation of communication processes, it
is regarded as positive emotional barriers and negative emotional barriers. The positive
emotional barriers are happiness and negative emotional barriers are anger, frustration, stress,
depression, anxiety, trauma, and pride. The individuals need to be well-aware in terms of
methods, approaches and strategies, which are necessary in overcoming emotional barriers.
When the individuals are pursuing higher education or training programs or are engaged in
employment opportunities in reputed organizations, they are well-aware that when they need
to communicate with their instructors, supervisors, or employers, they need to depict decency
and exercise control on emotional barriers. On the other hand, when communication takes
place in an informal manner among fellow students or colleagues, then in some cases,
emotional barriers may take place. But the individuals need to ensure that they communicate
with each other happily and should not let the psychological problems of anger, frustration,
stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, and pride to impede the communication processes. The
main areas that have been taken into account in this research paper include, emotional
barriers to communication, effects of emotional barriers upon the lives of individuals and
measures to overcome emotional barriers in effective communication.
Keywords: Communication, Emotional Barriers, Experiences, Individuals, Negative
Emotions, Positive Emotions, Psychological Problems
Emotional barriers are referred to as the walls that obstruct the communication terms
with other individuals. When the individuals are overwhelmed by emotional barriers, they are
either unwilling or experience problems in communicating with others. The examples of
emotional barriers are happiness, anger, frustration, stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, pride
and so forth. These are referred to as the psychological problems that prevent the individuals
from communicating in an appropriate manner. When the individuals experience these
psychological problems, they either communicate with individuals in an inappropriate
manner or leave the place. As they need to give themselves some time to recover. When the
individuals are aware that the emotional barriers are not regarded as appropriate and they
need to prevent them from assuming the major form, particularly within the course of
communication, they implement means to alleviate them. Furthermore, when the individuals
are overwhelmed by the psychological problems, they experience problems in expressing
their statements and in conveying other information. Therefore, the communication between
all individuals needs to take place in a well-organized manner and one should possess a
pleasant and friendly attitude.
When the individuals feel a strong emotion or feeling, they need to pay attention to
that emotion and ensure that it does not get in the way of the messages. Both positive
emotions such as happiness, as well as negative emotions such as, anger, frustration, stress,
depression, anxiety, trauma and pride can get within the course of communication process.
When the individuals are communicating with each other in educational institutions and
various types of organizations, they need to ensure that emotional barriers do not take place
within the course of communication process. When they are happy, they need to express their
happiness in a decent manner. On the other hand, one needs to prevent negative emotions
from assuming a major form, particularly within educational institutions and workplaces.
Positive emotions render a significant contribution in smoothing the flow of communication.
Whereas, negative emotions obstruct the communication process. Therefore, it is
indispensable to reinforce positive emotions while communicating (Chapter-III, Barriers:
Psychological and Emotional, n.d.).
Emotional Barriers to Communication
The emotional barriers to communication can be classified into positive and negative.
The positive emotional barriers are happiness and negative emotional barriers are anger,
frustration, stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, and pride. These have been stated as follows:
Happiness
Happiness is the feeling that the individuals experience when they form positive
viewpoints and develop an optimistic approach towards life. It is stated that to achieve
personal and professional goals and to enrich one’s life, the individuals need to remain happy
all the time. It is a normal emotion and a sense of well-being, joy and contentment. When the
individuals get engaged in any task or activity and carry it out successfully, they feel happy. It
is comprehensively understood by the individuals that when they are communicating with
others, they need to communicate happily. Within home, neighbourhood as well as the
community, when the individuals are communicating with each other, they need to
communicate happily. On the other hand, when they are communicating with others in
educational institutions and organizations, it is mainly related to work. Hence, the individuals
need to ensure that the feeling of happiness does not turn into an emotional barrier. In other
words, when the individuals are happy to a major extent, and do not exercise control, they are
unable to convey their viewpoints as well as impart information in a well-organized manner.
Therefore, when the feeling of happiness assumes a major form, it is stated to impose
emotional barrier within the course of effective communication.
Anger
Anger is a negative emotion, which imposes detrimental effects upon the lives of the
individuals. Individuals experience anger in their lives over other individuals, concerns,
matters and issues. In some individuals, it may take place on a frequent basis. Whereas,
among others, it takes place less frequently. But it is vital for the individuals to exercise
control on this emotion and prevent it from assuming a major form. When the individuals are
communicating with others within as well as outside the home, they need to ensure that they
are not angry. In some cases, due to the feelings of anger, the individuals tend to criticise as
well as complaint against others. These are not regarded as appropriate and individuals need
to form positive perspectives in terms of other individuals. Anger effects the ways in which
the brain processes information (Reid, 2018). In the feelings of anger, the individuals
experience problems in processing logical statements, limiting the ability to provide solutions
to problems and challenges. In other words, the analytical and problem solving skills of the
individuals get impeded due to anger. Hence, it is of utmost significance to control the
feelings of anger. Therefore, when the feeling of anger is extreme, it is stated to impose
emotional barriers within the course of effective communication.
Frustration
Frustration is referred to as the emotion that is experienced by individuals due to
number of factors. Some of these include, inability to carry out tasks and activities in a well-
ordered manner, work pressure, possession of ill feelings or unconstructive viewpoints in
terms of other individuals or other factors within the environment and so forth. It normally
takes place, when the individuals encounter barriers within the course of achievement of
personal and professional goals. When the individuals are frustrated, they experience
problems in the implementation of tasks and activities in a well-ordered manner as well as
experience problems within the course of effective communication. Hence, it is regarded as
an emotional barrier and individuals need to put into operation the measures to provide
solutions to this feeling. Frustration is not regarded as a negative feeling and can be a
meaningful indicator of the problems and challenges that takes place in the lives of the
individuals (Berger, 2005). In other words, the individuals generate awareness in terms of
their problems and challenges. But when they assume a major form, they can give rise to
barriers within the course of effective communication. Therefore, it can be stated, the feeling
of frustration imposes emotional barriers within the course of implementation of
communication processes in an effectual way.
Stress
Stress is referred to as the reaction of the body to any change that requires an
adjustment or response. The reaction of the body to the changes is with expressing physical,
mental and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of one’s life. It may be regarded as an
emotional barrier to the communication process, when it takes place in an extreme form. On
the other hand, when it does not take place in an extreme form, it is not regarded as an
emotional barrier to communication. Within the workplace, it is common that the individuals
feel stressed due to work pressure, but when they need to communicate with their
supervisors, colleagues as well as other members of the organization, they may do so by
preventing the feelings of stress from assuming a major form. When the individuals are
overwhelmed by the feelings of stress, they tend to communicate in an irritable and
inappropriate manner. On the other hand, when the feelings of stress are unfavourable and
individuals feel that they cannot convey them to others, they tend to remain in seclusion.
Hence, it is of utmost significance for the individuals to alleviate the psychological problem
of stress and prevent it from assuming a major form. Therefore, it can be stated, the
psychological problem of stress imposes emotional barriers within the course of
communication.
Depression
Depression, whether it is clinical or short-term is an emotional barrier within the
course of effective communication (Reid, 2018). When the individuals are depressed, they
prefer to stay in isolation and do not express willingness in communicating with others. In
addition, they even lose interest in tasks and activities that were once enjoyed. In some cases,
the depression is minor, whereas, in other cases, it is major. But the individuals need to
generate information and prevent it from assuming a major form. When the individuals
communicate with others in depression, they may communicate in an irritating manner or
give sarcastic remarks. Due to these, they experience problems in the implementation of
communication processes in an appropriate manner. When the individuals need to
communicate with each other in augmenting their career prospects and they are overwhelmed
by the psychological problem of depression, they experience emotional barriers within the
course of implementation of communication processes. In order to achieve personal and
professional goals and facilitate communication processes in an adequate manner, it is of
utmost significance for the individuals to overcome depression. They need to take proper
treatment. Therefore, it can be stated, when the individuals are overwhelmed by feeling of
depression, they experience emotional barriers within the course of the implementation of
communication process.
Anxiety
The feeling of anxiety has a negative impact upon the brain of the individuals and
they experience impediments within the course of implementation of communication
processes as well as in putting into practice the tasks and activities in a well-organized
manner. When the individuals are anxious, the flow of communication with others will not
take place in an efficient manner. In other words, the information, ideas and viewpoints that
needs to be imparted to the individuals are not imparted in a smooth and well-ordered
manner. Hence, the individuals need to ensure that they alleviate anxiety and implement
communication processes in a satisfactory manner. When the individuals are anxious, their
ability to concentrate on tasks and activities gets impeded. The other individuals also may not
express interest in communicating with anxious individuals and in this manner, the effective
communication may not get extended. The mental health specialist needs to address the
anxiety disorders, such as, post-traumatic stress disorder or phobias. This is the typical
anxiety that the individuals experience before delivering speeches and presentations. It is
experienced in any kind of work-related conversation (Reid, 2018). Therefore, it can be
stated, when the individuals experience the feeling of anxiety, it is an emotional barrier within
the course of communication.
Trauma
Trauma is referred to as the response of deeply distressing or disturbing event that
overwhelms the individuals. When the individuals experience this psychological problem,
their mind-sets get effected in an unfavourable manner. When the individuals experience
trauma, they experience problems within the course of participation in any tasks and activities
and in communicating in an effective manner (Onderko, 2019). The individuals experience
problems in coping with these conditions, they experience the feelings of helplessness and the
sense of self-worth and self-confidence gets diminished. As the consequence, they experience
detrimental effects. When the individuals are to communicate with each other in an
appropriate manner, there are number of factors that need to be taken into account. These
include, generating awareness in terms of aspects, which need to be communicated, having a
normal mind-set, feeling the sense of self-esteem and possessing positive viewpoints in terms
of all individuals, particularly with whom, communication has to take place. When the
individuals are overwhelmed by the feeling of trauma, they experience impediments in terms
of the above stated factors as well as in communicating effectually. Therefore, it can be
stated, when the individuals experience the psychological problem of trauma, it is an
emotional barrier within the course of communication.
Pride
Pride or the need to be right all the time will cause displeasure among individuals and
they express unwillingness in communicating. Pride is stated as a negative emotional barrier
to communication. In this case, when the individuals are communicating with others, they
speak in terms of their tasks and activities. In other words, they speak in terms of themselves
and all the positive tasks and functions that they have carried out. In this manner, they are
unable to take interest in listening to others, particularly in terms of their deeds. When the
individuals feel that others are communicating only in terms of themselves and are not taking
interest in listening to them, they do not express willingness in carrying out lengthy
communication. Hence, pride is regarded as negative emotional barrier. In educational
institution as well as in organizations, when the individuals are well-qualified, competent and
experienced and they are communicating in terms of their educational qualifications, skills
and experience, in such cases, it is not regarded as pride. In other words, when the individuals
are communicating regarding themselves, they need to state factual information in a
submissive tone and not depict pride. Therefore, it can be stated, the feeling of pride is an
emotional barrier within the course of communication.
Effects of Emotional Barriers upon the Lives of Individuals
The effects of emotional barriers upon the lives of the individuals may take place
during the childhood stage or even after adulthood. The individuals can experience the
psychological problems at various stages of their lives. When a student is unable to acquire
an efficient understanding of the academic concepts and experience problems in working on
assignments, he feels stressed. Examinations are regarded as one of the crucial aspects that
cause stress and anxiety among students. When the students experience setbacks in their
academic performance, they feel anger and frustration. Hence, the psychological problems of
anger, stress, anxiety and frustration lead to emotional barriers. The psychological problems
have an effect upon the physical health as well as psychological well-being of the individuals.
Therefore, it can be stated that the effects of emotional barriers upon the lives of the
individuals have unfavourable effects. These effects can take place in a major as well as in a
minor form.
One of the most critical issues that is brought about emotional barriers is the inability
to communicate in an efficient manner (What are Emotional Barriers? 2005). When the
individuals do not communicate with others in an efficient manner, they tend to remain in
seclusion and as a consequence experience barriers within the course of enriching their lives.
The major effects of emotional barriers takes place, when the individuals are to enhance their
career prospects. When the individuals are to acquire education or get engaged in
employment opportunities, then emotional barriers impose detrimental effects upon their
lives. Therefore, the individuals need to identify the causes of detrimental effects and put into
operation the measures to overcome them.
Emotional barriers prevent the individuals from achieving personal and professional
goals and in enriching their overall living conditions. It is commonly understood that
individuals, belonging to deprived, marginalized and economically weaker sections of the
society aspire to obtain employment opportunities to sustain their living conditions in a well-
organized manner. In order to acquire minority jobs, as well, the individuals need to pay
attention towards augmenting their communication skills. When these individuals will
communicate in a respectful manner, only then they will be hired. Hence, possession of
communication skills, knowledge and competencies are regarded is indispensable in
acquiring employment opportunities. These individuals are normally well-aware that within
the course of implementation of communication, they should not let emotional barriers to
assume a major form. Therefore, it can be stated, the individuals, belonging to various age
groups, categories and backgrounds put into operation the measures in an appropriate manner
to overcome the unfavourable effects of emotional barriers.
Measures to Overcome Emotional Barriers in Effective
Communication
It is of utmost significance for the individuals to overcome emotional barriers in
effective communication. The reason being, when they will generate awareness in terms of
measures, which are necessary in overcoming emotional barriers to effective communication,
they will carry out this task in a well-organized manner. It is necessary for the individuals to
augment their understanding in terms of ways to keep a healthy mind-set. When the mind-sets
of the individuals are healthy, they are able to overcome emotional barriers as well as carry
out their tasks and functions in a satisfactory manner. The measures to overcome emotional
barriers in effective communication and in implementing one’s tasks and activities in an
appropriate manner are stated as follows:
Get Engaged in Physical Activities – Getting in various types of physical activities is
regarded as one of the indispensable ways of alleviating stress as well as other psychological
problems of anxiety, depression, anger and frustration. The various types of physical
activities that the individuals get engaged in are, walking, running, cycling, and so forth. It is
recommended that for about 20 to 30 minutes, at least thrice a week, one should get engaged
in physical activities. This measure will not only enable the individuals to maintain good
health, but they are also able to alleviate psychological problems and promote effective
communication with others. Therefore, it can be stated, getting engaged in physical activities
is one of the important measures of overcoming emotional barriers to effective
communication.
Consume Healthy and Nutritious Diet – Consumption of a healthy and nutritious diet
is regarded to be of utmost significance for the individuals to stay healthy physically as well
as psychologically. It is comprehensively understood that the diet that the individuals
consume render a significant contribution in framing their mind-sets. When the individuals
consume a healthy and nutritious diet, they are not only able to maintain good health, but also
are able to enhance their concentration on various tasks and activities. When they concentrate
on tasks and functions, they will be able to overcome barriers to effective communication.
Therefore, it can be stated, consuming healthy and nutritious diet is one of the vital measures
of overcoming emotional barriers to effective communication.
Maintain Good Terms and Relationships – It is essential for the individuals to
maintain good terms and relationships with others within as well as outside the home. When
they will maintain pleasant and amiable terms and relationships with others, they will be able
to put into operation effective communication. Furthermore, the individuals are able to
understand each other and they do not feel disappointed, even when one communicates with
them in an inappropriate manner. The individuals develop positive viewpoints in terms of
other individuals. In this manner, they will be able to overcome emotional barriers that may
arise within the course of the communication process. Therefore, it can be stated, maintaining
good terms and relationships is one of the indispensable measures of overcoming emotional
barriers to effective communication and contributes in promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Develop Positive Thinking – Development of positive thinking is regarded as one of
the important ways of augmenting one’s communication skills and forming sociable terms
and relationships with others. When the individuals develop positive thinking, they will be
able to alleviate the emotional barriers to effective communication. When the individuals are
dedicated towards the pursuance of career goals, they need to develop positive thinking in
terms of the individuals as well as the working environmental conditions. This will enable the
individuals to develop motivation and interest towards the implementation of their job duties
as well as in promoting effective communication with others. Therefore, it can be stated,
development of positive thinking is one of the crucial measures of overcoming emotional
barriers to effective communication.
Acquire Education and Training – When the individuals lack knowledge and are not
well-aware, they will experience problems within the course of achievement of personal and
professional goals. Hence, acquiring education and training are not only regarded crucial in
the up-gradation of knowledge, but the individuals are able to augment their communication
skills as well. In other words, when they will be well-aware, they will communicate with
others in an appropriate manner. Acquisition of education and training facilitates effective
communication, hence, it is necessary to recognize the meaning and significance of education
and training. Furthermore, these render a significant contribution in bringing about
improvements in one’s lives. Therefore, it can be stated, acquisition of education and training
is one of the indispensable measures of overcoming emotional barriers to effective
communication and enriching one’s lives.
Conduct Research on Regular Basis – It is comprehensively understood that when the
individuals are communicating with each other in terms of a particular subject, topic or
concept, they need to possess adequate information. When they are well-aware, they will be
able to carry out communication processes in an effective manner and overcome barriers,
especially that take place due to lack of knowledge. In order to augment one’s knowledge and
understanding, the individuals need to conduct research on regular basis. The individuals are
making use of internet to a major extent, but they need to make use of books, articles and
other reading materials as well. When they will augment their knowledge, they will be able to
promote effective communication. Therefore, it can be stated, conducting research on regular
basis is one of the necessary measures of overcoming emotional barriers to effective
communication.
Mediate – In recent years, the technique of meditation has acquired significance to a
major extent. This technique is prevalent since ancient times and it is comprehensively
understood that when the individuals put into operation this technique, they will develop a
calm mind-set and learn to exercise control on the psychological problems. Research has
indicated, when the individuals are engaged in jobs, which are demanding and tedious, they
in some cases feel work pressure, stress and anxiety, but when they practice meditation, they
are not only able to alleviate the feelings of stress and anxiety, but also are able to promote
healthy mind-sets. Therefore, it can be stated, meditating is regarded as one of the
indispensable measures of overcoming emotional barriers to effective communication.
Acquire Healthcare and Medical Treatment – Healthcare and medical treatment is
regarded as crucial for the individuals, belonging to all age groups, categories and
backgrounds. When the individuals are overwhelmed by emotions to a major extent, they
need to acquire healthcare and medical treatment. The emotions such as depression and
trauma may require the individuals to take healthcare and medical treatment. When the
individuals are above 60 years of age, they need to make visits to medical and healthcare
centres on regular basis. As the individuals experience health problems as they age.
Therefore, it can be stated, acquiring healthcare and medical treatment is one of the essential
measures of overcoming emotional barriers to effective communication and in maintaining
good health and well-being.
Maintain High Levels of Mental Activity – The individuals, belonging to various age
groups, categories and backgrounds need to maintain high levels of mental activity.
Maintaining high levels of mental activity is referred to having active mind-sets. In order to
accomplish this purpose, the individuals need to get engaged in tasks and activities, which
promotes active mind-sets and well-being. The individuals need to get engaged in tasks and
activities, which would help them to stay healthy and active. When the individuals maintain
high levels of mental activity, they are able to overcome the psychological problems of anger,
frustration, stress, depression, anxiety, trauma and eliminate emotional barriers to effective
communication. Therefore, maintaining high levels of mental activity is one of the crucial
measures of overcoming emotional barriers to effective communication.
Do Brain Training – Brain training is referred to participating in tasks and activities,
which enable the individuals to bring about improvements in analytical and problem solving
skills (Roche, 2014). When the individuals are pursuing educational programs or are engaged
in employment opportunities in organizations, they need to develop analytical and problem
solving skills. When the individuals experience problems and are unable to provide solutions
to them, they feel stressed and anxious. Hence, brain training will render a significant
contribution in providing solutions to problems as well as in honing one’s analytical and
problem solving skills. This will also contribute in overcoming emotional barriers to effective
communication. Therefore, doing brain training is regarded as one of the fundamental
measures of overcoming emotional barriers to effective communication.
Conclusion
Emotional barriers are referred to as the walls that hinder the communication terms
among individuals. When the individuals are overwhelmed by emotional barriers, they are
either unwilling or experience problems in communicating with others. When the individuals
experience various types of psychological problems, they either communicate with others in
an inappropriate manner or may prefer to stay in seclusion. The reason being, they need time
to recuperate. When the individuals are aware that the emotional barriers are not regarded as
suitable and they need to prevent them from assuming the major form, particularly within the
course of communication, they need to put into operation ways to alleviate them. The
emotional barriers to communication can be classified into positive and negative. The
positive emotional barriers are happiness and negative emotional barriers are anger,
frustration, stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, and pride.
The measures to overcome emotional barriers in effective communication and in
implementing one’s tasks and activities in an appropriate manner are, get engaged in physical
activities, consume healthy and nutritious diet, maintain good terms and relationships,
develop positive thinking, acquire education and training, conduct research on regular basis,
mediate, acquire healthcare and medical treatment, maintain high levels of mental activity
and do brain training. Finally, it can be stated, when the individuals will put into operation the
measures in a satisfactory manner, they will not only carry out communication in an
appropriate manner, but also render a significant contribution in enriching their overall
quality of lives.
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