Talking About Feelings

moondreams · 09-05-2010, 10:02 AM

I have difficulty talking about how I'm feeling.
I can talk about how I'm feeling. But it comes across as blank and like an emotionless news report. And then no one knows what to say to me. They think I don't need help. I feel the feelings but I can't put them into words that others understand.
I've always been told I'm shy. Do you think it's because of that?
Do other people experience this?
I want to be able to express my feelings. It feels very lonely not being able to communicate properly.

DannieGirl · 09-05-2010, 10:26 AM

i am utterly rubbish at talking about my feelings and it's alwways caused trouble for my psychiatrist and cpn...i can talk to my psychologist easily...

i wrote something for them to read and i also gave it to my family...they said it was helpful for them..

have you tried writing/typing your feelings? and if you want to show your cmht you can print it off and show it to them..then it's a start on know what to talk about?

one_step_closer · 09-05-2010, 11:51 AM

I know what you mean. As said above, writing can be a good idea. I keep a mood diary which I show to my psychologist and it helps me to communicate my feelings. Writing allows you time to think. Take care.

mikey · 09-05-2010, 11:56 AM

I agree. I often find it difficult to express in words how I'm feeling, especially if I'm very low. I just can't find the words.
Writing is incredibly helpful for me too.

DannieGirl · 09-05-2010, 11:58 AM

i also keep a mood diary...which reminds me, i need to do yesterdays...lol

bleeding black · 09-05-2010, 02:28 PM

Hey :)
As from the replies you can probably see it's not at all uncommon, whether it be because of your shyness/personality, fear of rejection, lack of trust and so on.

I never used to be able to open up to my psychiatrist, but once i learnt to trust her, i started by writing in my journal and giving it to her to read in the session, to my writing it and reading it to her. It's a proccess.
I can definitely understand your loneliness, it's quite isolating isn't it?

I write almost everyday, from everyday stuff like 'went to literature class' to more emotionally based things. It can really help to write it out because then it's out on a page (or on your screen)- (which you may show to your therapist or Dr) and can feel less intense having written it all out.

Another thing I find very useful is grabbing a pencil or paint and just put whatever is building up inside out onto the canvas or paper. Don't think about it, don't plan it, just get whatever it is out. I find that is a good release for me, but not so much for communication..

It could be that when you are trying to communicate your emotions to people, as a defense mechanism the way you speak is altered, or they feelings are so intense that you can't be attached to them when you speak about them.

Do you see a therapist or psychiatrist?

moondreams · 09-05-2010, 03:48 PM

Thank you Dannie, one_step_closer, mikey and lost_boys.

I have a problem because it extends to writing too. I always thought I could write to let others know how I'm feeling. But I discovered recently that that's not really true. At least not at the moment.

I do see a therapist.

My therapist has noticed that I can be hard to reach at times. Would now be one of those times, because I'm under a lot of stress?

I can recognise and say "I'm sad" or "I'm angry" or "I'm scared." But it doesn't seem to reach people, well, apart from my therapist, I don't think.