How can I deal with feelings I can't find words to express?
323 Answers
Last Updated: 08/24/2021 at 12:38pm
★ This question about Managing Emotions was starred by a moderator on 5/12/2016.
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Johanna Liasides, MSc, PhDc
Psychologist
I work with youth and young adults to help them improve depressive symptoms and self-esteem as well as effectively address family, relationship and peer conflicts.
Top Rated Answers
Go for a walk in the park. I am serious, this works wonders. While walking and enjoying nature you will think about your feelings more calmly. You will find words more easily then.
If you can't find words to express try writing them in a song or write a story based on how you feel
Write it all down. Whats bothering you and whats unclear, what was wronged and who was at fault. Everything. It feels better and more organised. And as yoy write you might realise the solution too!
It may be hard to deal with feelings, but you should try and find an outlet that may help you express it.
I like using watercolors or pastels to "color" my emotions/feelings and express them visually. I'm not an artist by any means, but sometimes abstract color combinations can help translate how I'm feeling.
I have a journal next to my bed I write in each day and before bed. I found when I was a teenager this helped alot with my anger. Since then, I have filled many books. It's interesting to read his far I've come through the years.
Draw! Paint! Explore! You can always try to explain something to. Not being able to find the words, can make some of the best conversations in terms of honesty and vulnerability.
When I struggle to explain or articulate my emotional state, I try two things: drawing and cards. To draw: start with a stick figure, and mark on it where the feeling is, and what color. Cards: things like tarot decks are good because each card is a very specific aspect of the human emotional, intellectual, or spiritual condition. Drawing cards and looking up their meanings gives me words for describing the feelings. This is helpful because now the feelings are not so terrifyingly enormous and infinite. Additionally, having even these types of explanations for feelings helps me to reach out to people who care about me.
It's okay not to express your emotions. It's better to try to understand them instead of pushing yourself to show something you may not be prepared to process yet. Let yourself heal before you are able to put it into words. People who care about you will give you this time. Have patience with yourself!
Anonymous
December 16th, 2015 5:16pm
I've always found that tuning the world out with music and just write words soon enough they will come together so you have words that match your feelings.
Anonymous
December 16th, 2015 9:49pm
Sometimes when i cannot find the right words to express how i feel, i draw....starting off as doodles, and typically ending in a beautiful work of art, leaving me feeling much better. :)
Anonymous
December 17th, 2015 8:02pm
Even if you can't express your feeling with words, you can still find ways to deal with them. Self examination and finding a new hobby might be the starting point you need. In time, you may find it easier to open up to others.
Art can be a great way of getting to feelings that you can't express with words. I also like creative writing, sometimes stories can be metaphors for deeper emotions.
Feelings takes time to understand, always take it one step at a time to learn what you are feeling and how you are going to react to each of the feelings. This is important because at the end you will be dealing with the reaction you gave for each feeling you had.
Find out what feelings you have try to talk to someone trusted if you don't know who to talk to go to a one on one therapy session. Go see a doctor to see if you can get something prescribed. Keep trying to find out why you can find words to express those feelings.
Wow! I have thought like that before also. What i had done was writing down the things with the possible words. reading that later will give you right words/right ways to deal it.
I would journal about it. Write down anything that might have caused the feelings and even if you can't express the exact feeling, later you can come back to the entry and try to understand what was going on.
Try to sort them out for yourself first. What are you feeling; which feeling you know comes close to it? Try to draw what's going on inside you, or make a song about it. Once you've figured out what it is exactly that you're feeling, it'll get easier to find words to express the feelings. You can then write them down or talk to someone you trust, it's up to you.
Anonymous
December 20th, 2015 12:46pm
If the feeling is good, try to enjoy that, because there is then no need of words to express. If the feeling is't good, just throw it out of your system. :)
Be creative or try something new! Pick up a paintbrush and let the canvas speak for you. Remember, you are only human and we all feel.
Anonymous
December 23rd, 2015 11:40am
The best feelings in life doesn't have a word to contain. However, we can express it through our actions.
When I am overwhelmed with feelings I generally find it helpful to take half an hour out of my day and write down all the words I associate with the feelings I am having and then put these words into a letter to myself or a short story. It helps me to understand better how I am feeling and deal with it.
Anonymous
December 24th, 2015 12:03am
The best way to do this is to find another way to express your feelings, like through music or literature.
Anonymous
December 24th, 2015 6:25am
Inorder to express feelings that you cant put into words you can do two things. One- You can express your feelings by drawing them. Or two- you can write them down in a story or book.
You could express yourself through art that way you can use images to express how you feel instead of using words.
Sketch/Draw, Compose a melody, create a collage or artistic piece, free write for 5 mins and see what words flow out of your mind.
Take a pen and write down whatever comes to your mind.. And then when you're done.. Read it and you'll know what's up :)
If you can't find the words, maybe try to write what is making you feel this way down and then you might be able from this see the emotion your feeling :)
write what you want on paper or whatever comes to mind ,go back and read it ,see what jumps out ,
then face or deal with it. songs can always make me calm down a bit.
start a journal to write you feelings down to express them ....................................................................................................................
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