Listen & learn! HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF HEARD

We've all experienced the unsettling phenomenon of talking and not being acknowledged. Here's how to take control of a conversation so that when you speak, others listen

BE ASSERTIVE

There are several reasons why people may not hear you, and not all are bad. Sometimes people are having an off day, they're distracted or they're planning their response.

The problem comes when there's no apparent reason for their ongoing dismissal.

"If you're continually feeling unheard in a relationship, friendship or at work, it's a sign that your needs and rights are being disrespected," says clinical psychologist Dr Rebecca Ray. "Not being listened to time and time again is a pattern of being devalued, and it should be a warning sign that the is not emotionally relationship safe for the person attempting to be heard."

Rebecca says the best way to start communicating better is to ensure you're being assertive and advocating for your own rights and needs.