Axioms: Not communicating

A topic that seemed to pertain to me from Ch. 13 falls into the axioms of interpersonal communication. Although I feel that I am someone who likes to 'thoroughly' communicate, I have to admit that there are times that I feel I cannot communicate. And often times, it is because of the Symptom strategy. The symptom strategy is when we "ascribe our silence to something beyond our control that renders communication justifiably impossible: sleepiness, headache, drunkeness, etc." (p. 171)

I don't ever think of it as "I'm so _______ that I'm going to use it as an excuse to not communicate..." but often times, it does control how we are in the 'mood' to express ourselves. Watzlawick claimed that the symptom strategy suggests that "I don't mind talking to you, but something stronger than I, that I cannot blame, prevents me". I often find at social gatherings, if I've had a few drinks, and I'm feeling tired, I sometimes start to socialize less... and at that point, I'm usually not having fun, although I don't usually admit that to people that ask. But to be courteous, i usually just explain that I'm tired. But the people usually will call me out and say it looks like I'm not having fun... Which shows that your nonverbal cues give away answers too.