Emotional
Suppression
What You’re Noticing
Difficulty recognizing and articulating emotions — knowing that things feel “bad,” but not being sure exactly why
Rarely expressing emotions, aside from occasional outbursts
Judging others for being too emotional
Numbing or masking emotions with external distractions
Being the hero, fixer, or source of strength for others, while struggling to accept help or be vulnerable yourself
Few memories of talking about emotions in childhood
Feeling uncomfortable when others discuss emotions
Valuing strength and wanting to avoid weakness
How Therapy Can Help
Map your ability to express emotions with different people and situations
Understand how personal, family, and societal contexts influence you today
Identify dominant narratives about vulnerability, strength, and weakness
Build skills for identifying, processing, and talking about your emotions
Experiment with vulnerability in small, manageable steps
Develop personalized strategies for giving and receiving emotional support
Enhance self-compassion and rewrite narratives about emotional expression