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To Yell or To Scream: Using Your Voice Right

To Yell or To Scream: Using Your Voice Right

Kelly Rudolph | Excelle

June 17, 2009

Women, children and the elderly are the most common victim prospects for attackers but everyone of every age is vulnerable. While that’s the bad news, there’s plenty of good news, too!

Something as simple as using your voice correctly and knowing the correct things to yell make your voice your #1 weapon. It’s as simple as that.

If you are like me, you learned what to scream if you were in danger, right? This was only good in theory but far too ineffective for reality.

Here’s why:

1. Screaming is weak and defensive.
2. Yelling is strong and offensive.
3. Most of the things we were taught to scream don’t work.

But I’ll tell you what does work.

Screaming vs. Yelling

When screaming is heard, most people think that person is either playing around or in too dangerous of a situation to get involved. And most people want to avoid helping, or stepping in, for fear of getting hurt. (They are smart!)

When yelling is heard, it sounds like something is about to happen but hasn’t yet. It is strong and gets a completely different kind of attention than screaming does. A kind of attention that gets more people interested in helping to prevent anything further from happening.

What to Yell

1. Stop!
2. Back off!
3. 911!

These are the most effective things to yell. We won’t go over the others we have heard all our lives because there is no reason to fill our minds further with things that don’t work.

Next Page: The How, Why and When to Yell

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  • Hpim1902_max50

    kbtordai

    5 months ago

    708 comments

    This is the best self defense tip I have ever heard! Thank you so much!

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Account Removed

    5 months ago

    This gave me goosebumps and is exactly what I learned in defense class. It's amazing what a difference it can make internally, you feel a rush of empowerment rather than fear. And of course, the most important thing to remember that we all seem to forget is TRUST YOURSELF. If you feel nervous in a situation, there is a reason, don't discount yourself. Stay safe everyone!

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