Emotions are a complex and multifaceted part of the human experience. Emotions can be wonderful-like the joy of being in love, having a fun day with friends, or feeling pride in your work. But emotions can also be challenging-such as when you fail at something, lose a loved one, or feel hurt by someone’s actions. Stuffing your emotions is one less healthy way that many people try to handle their emotions.

This is a simplistic breakdown of human emotions. In reality, emotions exist on a broad spectrum that ranges between extremes of “highs” and “lows.” Often, people experience multiple emotions simultaneously, making them even more challenging to understand.

Because emotions can be so challenging to understand and handle, many people opt to “handle” them by stuffing them down into themselves.

What does it mean to “stuff” emotions?

Think of stuffing emotions like cramming old items into a storage closet in your mind. Over time, you can keep adding more, but eventually, you’ll run out of space. The clutter will begin to spill out, and you might not be able to close the door anymore!

Stuffing your emotions is like shoving old stuff into a storage closet. When you stuff emotions back into yourself, you are ignoring or hiding them rather than processing them in real time. In the moment, it might seem easier to pretend you’re not feeling anything, so you hide or ignore your feelings in an attempt to move past them.

However, this is where those unprocessed emotions begin to feel like junk in the storage closet-hiding them doesn’t solve the problem. It merely delays the consequences of ignoring them for too long. When big emotions are ignored for too long, they can pile up into a mess that eventually becomes too big to ignore.

How can you stop stuffing your emotions?

Dealing with big, complex emotions can be challenging and often feels painful and raw. However, learning how to feel and accept emotions is the key to processing them fully so you can move past them. If you’re ready to stop stuffing your emotions, consider implementing these basic strategies to get started.

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

If the idea of allowing yourself to feel an uncomfortable emotion makes you squirm, you are not alone-it’s difficult to do, which is why so many people stuff emotions rather than dealing with them head-on. To stop stuffing those emotions, let yourself actually accept and feel those emotions. This can take time, but allowing yourself to acknowledge those big feelings is the first step toward processing them correctly.

Accept that emotions are normal.

Emotions-whether they are good, bad, or uncomfortable-are all normal. When you feel a certain way, it is important to validate your experience, even if it is unpleasant. Allow yourself to accept that emotions are natural, no matter how extreme or uncomfortable they might be.

Be up-front about how you are feeling.

Be honest with yourself and others when you are experiencing emotional reactions. For example, if someone says something that makes you feel uncomfortable, speak up. If you notice that a choice you made makes you feel guilty, acknowledge it with yourself as you notice that feeling happening.

Being honest with yourself is essential when trying to stop stuffing your emotions. Expressing your feelings early on, before you have a chance to suppress them, is crucial for healthy emotional processing.

Learning to process your emotions is a vital step towards better mental health. If you’re finding it difficult to stop stuffing your emotions and need guidance, Gaia Counselling is here to help. Our holistic approach can support you in understanding and managing your emotions effectively. Book a session today or reach out to learn more about our personalized therapy services. Together, we can work towards a healthier, more balanced emotional life.