Here’s Why You Never Express How You Truly Feel

One thing that all adults who have trouble expressing their feelings have in common is that they learned it was unsafe to do so when they were younger. Parents often unintentionally emulate the behavior of previous generations who didn't understand emotional healthiness, so their children learn to suppress or repress their feelings.

Here are some reasons why you might struggle to express how you feel:

You don't like conflict and confrontation

When people have a strong aversion to offending others, they tend to avoid conflicts to avoid such consequences. Conflict avoidance strategies include changing the subject, pretending to agree when you really don't, and not saying what's on your mind. These traits originate from having been raised by parents who were critical of every little thing, constantly found fault, or seemed disinterested, preoccupied, or dismissive.

You have self-esteem issues

If you don't value yourself, you might not think you deserve to speak out for what you want or air your grievances. You may even be inclined to believe that your own feelings are unimportant. Therefore, naturally, you don't share them with anyone. Another possibility is that you're holding back because you fear abandonment.

It's also possible that you keep your emotions bottled up to protect your own shaky self-esteem. The fear of being judged is too large for you to chance expressing your feelings at the moment. You are, in effect, fortifying a barrier around your emotions that serves to keep you safe but leaves you emotionally cut off from others.

You feel pressure to maintain a perpetual state of joy

When a person strives for emotional perfection, they attempt to hide or suppress any bad sensations for fear of being judged as weak or sad. Possible contributors include upbringing in a household where emotions were discouraged and/or a parent's overly lofty aspirations. In reality, we can't always be level-headed and in charge of our feelings, and we can't be expected to have a perpetually sunny disposition. Learning how to express your true feelings is important, no matter how the other person perceives them.

Work with a hypnosis expert in Rochester, NY

Getting guidance from experts like the certified hypnotist at Blossom Hypnosis can help you learn effective methods for expressing your emotions. You can overcome your fear of showing emotion by working with their hypnosis expert, Rekha Shrivastava. She will show you how to identify your feelings, remove fear from your subconscious mind, and communicate your emotions in constructive ways.

Schedule a meeting with her now if you're interested in finding out more.