Stuffing Your Feelings: An Unhealthy Coping Mechanism (Page 2)

Try this exercise:

Each morning when you wake up, check in with yourself. How are you feeling? If it’s joy – beautiful! Enjoy it. If it’s depression or anger, give yourself a hug – a big hug, and ask for support. Allow yourself to feel the emotion for a day. Unless you are in real emotional trouble, chances are that these feelings will begin to dissipate. However, if you continue to feel angry and nothing really helps you, please seek a medical opinion. Honoring your feelings and not feeling guilty about them is all part of the holistic approach I use when I’m coaching caregivers. I encourage you to listen to your soul and honor the feelings that show up for you.

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By Cindy Laverty, AgingCare.com Contributor

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Melania P.

9:21AM PDT on Apr 4, 2013

Sharing... Writing helps me a lot.

April 4
send a green star

Summerannie M.

1:37AM PST on Dec 7, 2012

I gave a heap of whangs into the fence today b/c the paling had fallen off. Then I went to the front paling fence and whanged two more pickets in again.
Gee I really got into it and felt better...heheh didnt know that was part of therapy for me

December 7
send a green star

Rosie L.

2:48PM PST on Nov 29, 2012

writing in a journal helps too

November 29
send a green star

Aditya n.

7:34PM PST on Nov 25, 2012

always practiced this " if you don't mind ..then it doesn't matter" it was just another form of stuffing my feelings in the "doesn't matter drawer".. but over the years i realised .. this only good for physical training of body .. this was extreme bad for mind ..for mind works on newton's 3rd law ..." every action has equal and opposite reaction " and if we stuff the opposite reaction part ...then it creates big problem later..so i think we must give give appropriate output for every input ..sometimes being vocal .with simple talk...sometimes through demand .. sometimes through diplomatic ways..and sometimes through leadership..sometimes with respect or disrespect...but we should never use hate.( i think what most important here .how positively and harmoniously and wisely we remove the stuffed feelings .. and not let it accumulate ..)

November 25
send a green star

Anne T.

1:42PM PST on Nov 25, 2012

I surpressed my feelings for years, trying to avoid being a burden for others. When I now have started to share feelings and life-incidents with others, I only get positive feedback on it. Everyone actually appreciate that I share, because then they feel trusted and have the chanse to help me out or support me, being a true friend ;). It is great finally learning that sharing only makes you stronger

Stella G.

3:05PM PST on Nov 24, 2012

The key here is having a physical outlet for anger and stress. Running, yelling, hammering nails, even video games, help vent the pressure. Meditation can help keep the stress lower and make it easier to cope but it, too, can be a form of "stuffing your feelings".

November 24
send a green star

g d c.

8:31AM PST on Nov 24, 2012

Loo S.

7:03AM PST on Nov 24, 2012

thanks

Karen R.

5:36AM PST on Nov 24, 2012

Emefa D.

4:29AM PST on Nov 24, 2012

I crochet or engage in some form of crafting to ease depression, being in the garden helps and just being outside and breathing the air and enjoying watching the clouds roll by is a great way to gain perspective on things and feel refreshed