How do you express emotions when you were raised not to show them?

Question

I grew up in a household where emotions were not expressed and feelings were considered weakness. As an adult I have almost no ability to identify or express what I feel. I know something is wrong emotionally but I cannot name it or communicate it. How do you learn this as an adult?

kinsley_james · Accepted Answer

Start by building vocabulary. An emotions wheel lists hundreds of specific feelings and having names for them helps you identify them. Journaling is a low-stakes way to practice putting feelings into words before you have to do it in conversation.

emma_davis · Answer

Therapy with someone trained in emotion-focused approaches can be very effective for this. You are not broken, you are undertrained in an area that your childhood environment did not teach. It is learnable.

How do you express emotions when you were raised not to show them?

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How do you express emotions when you were raised not to show them?

2 answers Most votes Newest Oldest

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2 answers
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