Trouble Expressing Anything
I hope I've come to the right forum. This is reaching a point where I fear my relationships and career are going to suffer, and possibly already are.
I'm having serious trouble voicing my thoughts and feelings, especially when it comes to my needs and things that bother me. I just can't do it, so I stay quiet and accept the situation.
This leads to me becoming progressively frustrated and unhappier. I can't express that either and I don't know how else to deal with it so it manifests as withdrawal, a short temper, and dissociation.
When I attempt to express anything I can only describe the feeling as total exposure, like pulling open a wound or being completely naked. As if my feelings and needs are not valid or worthy of acknowledging.
I am 32 and have been this way for as long as I can remember. I had a good upbringing in a well adjusted household. I have not been subject to any abuse as a child or adult outside of the some school bullying which I resolved.
I really can't understand where this came from or how to get over it.r Ae they any strategies I can use to move forward from this?
Hello. I feel like you have a very detailed and well thought out description, but I still want more details to know how to respond.
Of course your feelings and concerns matter. It is often quite helpful to filter the things one says though. I think that is why often people complain about their significant other to someone other than that person first, and then after digesting the matter some decide how to bring the issue up with the person in question. Same goes for work. Have to be very nuanced sometimes.
@enthusiasticPapaya8329 That's a good suggestion. I'll wade in slowly and see if the filtering works. The closer I am to someone the harder it is.
The weird part is that consciously I know my feelings are valid, but that feeling of exposure and shame stops me dead in my tracks. I want to say something but can't. There's some deeper mental obstruction there that I struggle to identify.
Would you like to discuss the matter here?
