The Disappearing Art of Verbal Communication: Why It’s a Threat to Mental Health

Have you ever observed birds tweeting and chirping, or dogs barking among themselves? Why are they doing that? Are they mad? Not at all.Well, let me explain — they are communicating with each other. This is their way of communication — in other words, their own way of expressing something.

Now, the most important question is: What is communication?

Communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, thoughts, and feelings between two or more beings — whether they are people, birds, or animals. This exchange can take place through words, symbols, sounds, or expressions.

To survive on Earth, it is essential for every living being to understand how to communicate.

There are three kinds of communication, such as:

• Intrapersonal communication – Communicating with oneself, including thoughts, feelings, and self-talk.
• Interpersonal communication – Communication between two or more individuals (verbal and non-verbal communication).
• Intercommunication – Mutual exchange of information between two or more entities.

Here, I will focus on interpersonal communication, which is gradually fading from our lives because both verbal and non-verbal communication are essential.

How you communicate in your organisation, school, college, or workplace also plays a crucial role, and you have to follow it because it may hinder your progress if you don’t follow the mode of communication as required by your company or institution.

This is an era of a fast-paced, technology-oriented world, where interpersonal communication, like face-to-face communication, is disappearing from our daily lives as we prefer verbal communication rather than texting and messaging. Because we are more dependent on technology. We are overusing the technology because social media is ruling over our minds and souls as well. Everybody is so busy and focused on studies or personal goals that they do not have much time for real conversation.

Undoubtedly, our lifestyles have changed. We are intensely busy — but we must remember that, aside from professional commitments, we also have relationships that need nurturing: our parents, spouses, children, siblings, and friends.

Research conducted by MIT professor Sherry Turkle found a 40% decline in empathy among college students who preferred texting over face-to-face communication. She explained that we “forget what we miss when we can see expressions and hear tone.”

In another research, approximately 25% of married couples and 42% of seriously-dating couples reported that most of the time they feel ignored since his/her partner was using the phone during quality time. And gradually there is slide decline in satisfaction with their relationship.

A study indicated that long and inflexible working hours have intensely disturbed their relationship. And such conflicts disturbed as well reduced interpersonal communication. Therefore, we have to balance both personal as well as professional relationships and have to give time to both as both are essential for our survival.

Mental Health Consequences of Losing Verbal Communication

If verbal communication disappears from our lives, various psychological issues may arise, such as:

• Loneliness, which can further lead to anxiety and depression.
• Lack of face-to-face interaction leads to a decline in empathy and emotional connection.
• Verbal interaction involves tone, eye contact, and body language — elements essential for emotional bonding.
• Relying too much on other forms of communication can result in social anxiety, emotional burnout, and even depression.

Mental Health Arise in absence of verbal communication

When we lose face-to-face communication, we also lose essential life skills like listening, expressing feelings, sharing ideas, and conflicts resolving skills — all of which are developed through real human interaction.

As study of Primack et al., 2017 published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine that clearly found that excessive usage of social media associated with isolation whereas person engaged more in-person communication found less anxiety and depression because reduces the depression and anxiety. In another study found that verbal communication boost the secretion of oxytocin (bonding hormones), which helps reduce anxiety and depression as well as build trust. So we must change our habits and lifestyle immediately to lead a more connected, balanced, and joyful life.

Relationships Matter More Than Gadgets

Apart from electronic devices, there are people who are an integral part of our lives — our parents, siblings, spouses, children, and friends. They need our time and attention. Let’s not forget our parents, who love us more than any gadget ever could. They are always waiting, always asking about us — not out of need or desire, but because of their unconditional love. For them, we are their first and last hope.

Think of how we feel during festivals or vacations in our hometowns — how quickly time flies and how happy those moments are. Those memories are built not on screens, but on real presence and genuine interaction. We can create such beautiful days every day, simply by reducing our unnecessary use of gadgets and increasing verbal communication with our loved ones.

A Wake-Up Call

This is the demand of the time. If we don’t take necessary steps now, the world may descend into a mental health–zombified atmosphere, where emotionally disconnected people spread more emotional numbness to others.

Many people are already battling stress, depression, and anxiety, making it even harder to open up or maintain close relationships. But if we act now, we can begin to heal. Finally, we can just say that communication is the foundation of life, a tool for expressing feelings and exchanging ideas in every civilization. But interpersonal communication is the heart of all communication. It connects one heart to another. It builds empathy, trust, and emotional clarity — something that digital messages cannot replicate.

• Therefore, let us make time to talk, listen, and connect with the people around us.
• Let us rebuild the habit of real communication.
• Let us strengthen our relationships and protect our mental well-being.
• Because the human touch — in words, in eye contact, in listening — is what truly keeps us alive.