I'd agree that gradual progress is best. I think maybe just a firm tone of voice can have a lot of effect without having to say a whole lot of words. Definitely be conscious of the word choice when you do say more, because as far as degradation, there can be a huge difference in connotation between two words that basically have the same denotation. But yeah, patience is key. And make sure to establish certain actions or key words that may trigger a more negative response and for now, try to avoid them. Good luck! : )