A Messy Mood During WhatsApp Chats Or Short Messages Reply? Expert Explains The Cause

Illustration of the reason why chat whatsapp is short (Freepik/benzoix)

YOGYAKARTA Messages that are responded to briefly using one or two words, are often called dry texting. This form of communication is considered to damage the mood. But whether due to expectations or for other reasons, experts mention the cause or trigger.

Sending messages to each other is a character of modern life. For many people, it may be natural to reply to messages as they are using just one or two words. But not a few whose mood is disturbed because of short message replies. If you say the relationship therapist, Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT., a short reply like Keren, 'It's okay, 'Of course you can', make someone not sure how the tone of the message they received.

Facts revealed based on a survey in 2017, 71 percent of the 2,000 Americans used visual expressions to reply to chats. Such as emojis, stickers, and GIFs to reply to messages. The 2022 survey also shows that out of 1,000 workers, 10 percent believe incomplete messages without emojis. The results of this survey show in general that dry texting will be very clear.

So why does someone reply to messages briefly and dryly?

If it's clear that Earnshaw, maybe in fact the person is more friendly than the choice of words sent in the message. The problem is not on conversations but on the personal of each, either receiving or sending a dry texting. There is always the potential that a person is really busy and doesn't have much time to give a feel to their text. Or they feel that the sender of the message only needs an answer as it is and not more.

At a deeper level, it may also be that sending dry messages has difficulty communicating via text and they only feel comfortable sharing short responses. Another possible cause of dry texting according to psychotherapist Anita Astley, LMFT, as senders of dry messages may suffer from social anxiety and difficulty communicating their thoughts and feelings through written words.

Apart from personal reasons, dry texting is also a reflection of how they view relationships with you. Because dry text messages can be used not to devote their attention to talking to you.

"That could be how they distance themselves from you by sabotaging successful communication," said Astley.

In addition to the reasons above, dry texting leads to passive-aggressive behavior. Which is not interested in revealing or listening to complaints. They may also send short messages to express frustration, anger, or other psychological reasons.

Well, Astley's message, in a conversation needs to be built a clear context. Building a context requires further efforts in communicating. For example, asking if the time is free then says whether it's comfortable to be invited to send messages via Whatsapp or other digital platform electronic messages. That way, expectations are not too high and mutual communication will be healthier.