15. “Calm down”
Telling someone to “calm down” is rarely productive, especially when emotions are running high. It often makes the other person feel like their feelings are invalid or overblown, which leads to frustration and defensiveness. Even if your intent is to de-escalate the situation, it can feel like you’re dismissing their emotions rather than trying to understand them. Instead of using this phrase, try showing empathy or offering to take a break to cool off. That approach communicates that you care about their emotional state and are willing to work through things together. When you’re both able to take a step back, it leads to healthier conversations and helps keep the connection strong.
