Trouble expressing feelings

[Sigh]

Does anyone else have trouble expressing how they feel about things and people? I have real trouble with it, especially when it comes to other people. It's frustrating

[Paulinus]

I actually encountered this problem today. I was talking to my therapist and I just couldn't describe the way I felt about something. I suppose it hard because I'm so used to suppressing my feelings around people thats its harder to release it.

I have little experience of it beside talking to my family and therapist.

Edit: Thinking about it i had trouble expressing my feelings about having trouble expressing my feelings in this very post

[GreenFerret]

sigh said:

Does anyone else have trouble expressing how they feel about things and people? I have real trouble with it, especially when it comes to other people. It's frustrating

Noooope.

Just joking. If I'm pushed, I don't have any trouble; but if it's an out-of-the-blue kind of thing, it can be really difficult to know what/how to say things. It's scary not knowing how people are going to react, so I generally try to be honest, but vague. Is that a bad thing? Iiii dunno. I've noticed most people tend to dodge having to directly declare their true feelings. And yes--sometimes it just seems like the right words are hard to find, or people just don't "get" what you're trying to say. That's frustrating, but I think it happens to anyone who's not really self-assured and brimming with confidence.

[Tal]

Yeah I have that trouble sometimes, usually when speaking. I can express myself much better in written form. Sometimes I shy away from saying something I feel might be offensive or suggestive, even if deep down I think I should say it - I think that's down to a lack of confidence among other things.

Even with my ex-g/f I never really was able to express love in a serious, romantic manner. It wasn't that I didn't care, but it just felt awkward saying it. I also find it difficult to say sorry to people, so perhaps there's something behind all of that.

[gSteve]

I have trouble expressing feelings, i suppose I worry about what people will think and worry about saying something stupid. I keep my feelings to myself, I don't like people to see how I feel.

[annaa]

Kind of.
Sometimes i'll be that consumed by an emotion/feeling that I can't find the words to tell people how I am.

[Alecto]

Some times I have trouble expressing how I feel around certain people. Other times I don't know the right words to describe how I'm feeling

[pnoopiepnats]

yes i do. I don't think I have many feelings about thngs. I was just numb for so long; years.

It was just around the end of last year where I finally started expressing them a little and also feeling them.

I still find it hard to say what I really feel. It is easier to write than to say it or to make a joke about it.

I don't let many people get close to me.

[lancelot]

Yes. Makes me wonder if I'll ever get close to a woman because I'm not good at sharing or expressing feelings. I've always kept my feelings to myself since I was a kid. Sometimes I bottle up so much that if something comes along and upsets me I punch or kick a box. Several months ago I stomped on a toy and destroyed it just to release pent up frustration. I paid for the toy, but boy did it feel good destroying it. People have to get to know me before they have a chance to get close to me in any way.

[Sigh]

Yeah, I have a hard time letting people get close to me. Cos they usually trample all over my feelings anyway.

What I had trouble with earlier was telling someone that I'd missed them... dumb eh? Anyway I bit the bullet and told them and they didn't say it back and I wish I'd kept my stupid big mouth shut. This always happens when I reveal my true feelings... I just get rejected it fucking sucks!

Yes, sorry guys but I am having an incredibly bad night.

[zoegonzalez]

Maybe they have a hard time expressing themselves too.
It's not stupid to tell someone how you feel - they're lucky to have you caring for/about them.

[lula]

I have trouble expressing my true feelings on just about anything. It's almost impossible to express my feeling to people. If someone asks me my opinion on something, I try to guess how they feel and say I feel the same way or I don't say anything at all.

As for people, I'm so afraid of being rejected I don't say what I really feel.

[airburst]

It's hard to express your feelings when you don't seem to have them in the first place.

[Samantha]

You did good telling this person you missed them, don't regret it. It can be hard opening up but unless you do then you will never get anywhere. You took a brave step admitting your feelings and you should be proud. I'm sorry it didn't work out the way you would of hoped but that's not your fault. At least you were honest. You did the right thing and you should never regret that.

Plus there could be many reasons why this person didn't reply the way you hoped. They might also be bad at expressing them selves as zoe said.

[Tal]

If they were shy they may not know how to reply to that or in what context you meant it, e.g. because you were friends or because you had feelings for them etc.

It's nothing to be embarrassed about though. Trying and failing is better than never having tried at all, I guess. Give yourself credit for the attempt, because a lot of people wouldn’t even get that far. It may be an indication you should put that person behind you or not be so emotionally open to them in future.

You never know how someone will react until you speak to them, or see others speaking to them, so there's always the chance you'll say the wrong thing or try and elicit a response that doesn't exist in the first place. That’s just life.