How many times have you found yourself in a difficult situation that brings up many emotions for you, but you believe you have to suppress those emotions and move on? Whether it be something that upsets you at work, something happens and you feel you have to put on a brave face for your kids, you don’t want to create an issue with a friends or family member, etc.
Now how many of those times have you truly been successful in suppressing that emotion and moving on?
Or has the case been that you try to not feel the negative emotion but you just end up feeling worse. Or maybe you end up expressing it in other ways like bringing your upset feeling home from work and taking it out on your family?
Suppressing and ignoring emotions and feelings is something we all try to do- but it doesn’t work!
How we respond to our emotions is a choice but the feelings that come up are not. It is perfectly normal and acceptable to feel negative emotions when going through hard and stressful times.
This concept is a common thing that gets worked on during therapy.
Clients will come in to a session and talk all about the things they are struggling with. They will share the difficulties they are facing. When the counselor questions how all of these stressful things are making them feel, however, clients will often respond with a simple answer- “stressed”- or will minimize what they are facing. “Its challenging, but I am getting through it!”
But in reality, they are facing a myriad of emotions and are struggling to handle what they are going through.
Society puts such an emphasis on powering through and keeping up appearances. But if you do this, what is it costing you? Your mental health? Physical health? Relationships? Career?
Does pretending to be ok help anyone?
A cliched saying is “admitting you have a problem is the first step.” Well, it may be a cliché, but it holds truth. Admitting you are struggling with something is the first step in overcoming it. Accepting you are feeling a negative emotion is the first step in moving past it.
As children, we tend to classify how we feel as bad or good. But feeling bad, is not bad. It is normal.
As adults we can identify our emotions with more specific names. Disappointment. Frustration. Guilt. Resentment. Loneliness. Fear. Rejection.
These feelings are ok. YOU are ok.
If you are facing difficulties in your life and/or are struggling to identify and accept your emotions, let the counselor at Amy Wine Counseling Center help you. Seeking help takes great strength and is a great choice to make for yourself! I would love to be the person to help you through your hardships. You can learn more about me at https://amywinecounseling.com/amanda-harrington-counseling-cypress-texas/ or call the office at 832-421-8714.
James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised.
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