Stress is an inevitable part of life, shaping and influencing our every decision, emotion, and action, including the way we communicate. It may induce the silent treatment or cause an emotional outburst, both of which can cause future regret.

Preply, a language learning service, surveyed Americans to uncover common trends in how we communicate during stressful situations. Here, we explore the undeniable link between specific words and stress responses, and provide actionable advice to harness language as a tool for better communication when tensions rise.

Key findings

• The majority (80%) of Americans say their tone becomes more hurtful when stressed.
• When stress levels rise, 87% confess to using language they later regret.
• “I don’t care” is the No. 1 phrase Americans regret saying at work.
• A notable 76% say stressed communication has hurt their personal relationships.
• “I have some bad news” (65%) is the No. 1 phrase Americans feel triggered by.

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