While for some of us, being expressive of our emotions and staying in touch with our feelings comes naturally, others tell a different story. Some people find it hard to talk about what they are feeling and we don’t blame them!

People who have seen tough times as children tend to close themselves off to expressiveness as a defense mechanism. And while their mind is just protecting them, this can pose as a hurdle later in their lives and meddle with their relationships.

If this sounds like you, know that you are not alone, and that you can be healed. Here are three ways to get you started on your journey to identifying and expressing your emotions more effectively.

Observe And Understand Your Physical Response

One of the best ways to stay in touch with your feelings is to be acutely aware of your physical responses to things. These physical responses can be different for everyone and are accompanied by particular emotions.

Some people may feel tightness in their chest and shoulder when they are afraid of something. Others may experience anxiety and fear as a giddy feeling all over their body and sweaty palms. Observing your physical responses across different situations will help you identify your emotions and act accordingly.

Try To Avoid Judging The Feelings As They Come

One of the main reasons people suppress their feelings and avoid coming to terms with them is because they have learnt to judge and associate those feelings with something they define as ‘negative’—even when they don’t want to.

This makes them want to never face those feelings again, even if they are reasonable, justified, and even, good. To be able to identify and express your feelings freely, you must learn to un-judge. Just observe, and let the feeling pass, without judgement.

Over time, this will become easier and you’ll grow more in tune with yourself.

Talk To Someone You’re Comfortable With

As hard as it is to let other people in, it is also important. One of the best ways to get comfortable with the idea of expressing your feelings is to start with someone you’re comfortable with.

Find a good friend and try and talk to them about things you’re least cautious about. Start small and build your way up as you become more and more comfortable.

Even though these tips help, what helps you open up even faster is hypnosis. Our expert hypnotist, Rekha Shrivastava specialized in helping people helping people overcome their fear of expressing emotions and feelings. If you’re looking for a counselor who can help you get back in touch with yourself, express and understand your feelings, and manage your symptoms effectively, feel free to get in touch with us.  

You can book a free consultation at our office in Pittsford to learn more. For those who live outside of Rochester, Rekha is also available for Skype sessions.