Emotional phobia?

[Nighthawk]

This is what I heard today. Does such a thing even exist. I don't think one can have a phobia of emotions.

I think my therapist struggeles with the fact that im not better yet.

 

[Recovery4Me]

:hug:
Sometimes, when I see an individual struggling, I must confess that I may become uncomfortable. An elder use to offer that- "You can lead a horse to water but you can not make him drink." So it is indeed possible that your therapist 'struggles' (as you offer) in the waiting period or perhaps it is just the empathy from seeing you in pain at your crossroad.

So I gently offer that when reviewing the leaps and bounds or even the simply things, that you have already conquered...be kind and patient to yourself with those obstacles still remaining. When you are ready, you will fly through those lumpy areas with the precision as well as focus of the Night Hawk. :tup:

 

[Nighthawk]

Im just confused cause I feel I just show it through my body. Im not sure I know how to express my emotions other than anger

 

[greenleaf]

One can definitely have a fear of emotions of various sorts, esp. strong ones. (I never actually think of it as a phobia, just fear, not sure why.)

Fear of strong emotions that feel overwhelming is really common if you search around on this site and elsewhere for complex trauma from childhood; childhood abuse often goes along with the child having no supportive adults around to teach safe experiencing and internal processing of strong emotions. The adults may even be the cause of most of the strong negative emotions for the kid; with no help available, for survival, kids can learn to squash the emotions... except the emotions are still sort of there since I don't think we control that part of our brains, the emotions are just walled off from consciousness in various ways for different people.

Learning to regulate emotions is a big part of recovery, and first we have to feel safer with the emotions in various ways, learning healthier coping methods than just squashing them into our muscle problems (for instance) and so on.

The strong emotions can also have led to more abuse for some kids, so it can be directly related to danger that way too.

We can definitely learn healthy emotional regulation skills as adults though!!! It's very worthwhile, in my opinion. Life becomes amazingly richer.

 

[Nighthawk]

@greenleaf

Thank you and makes way more sence now.

 

[joeylittle]

Im not sure I know how to express my emotions other than anger

If it helps at all, I can't express anger. I have no idea when that is going to change. I've never heard "emotional phobia" either, but reading this thread rang so many bells with me. Thanks for bringing it up.

 

[Rumors]

I, too, think you can have a phobia of emotion. Much like you, the only emotion I have expertly mastered is anger. At the sign of any other emotion, it is like I sense danger and I shut down. Did you ever see the movie, Wall E? When the dust storms would come he would disappear into his little box body and shut down until they passed. I think I unintentionally do the same thing particularly when I smell fear. I either come out with some boxing gloves or I retreat into my box until the episode passes. For me, emotion equals danger and I can't move beyond that to feel safe enough to explore the other emotions out there. I feel things like empathy and sympathy for others, but not myself. It is perplexing and frustrating... I have NOT done any work on this in therapy. My guess is I would retreat into my box like Wall E at the first sign of danger. Good luck! I know it is tough, but well worth the effort to try and fix!

 

[shell]

Yes I have a phobia of certain emotions especially noticable when I feel close to tears, or anger. I used to start panicking when any emotions would come up in therapy, hold my breath and shut down or dissociate. It has taken years of practise and patience for me to show emotions, let alone just sit with my own emotions.

One of the reason I avoid close contact with people is that I feel triggered around them, and I can't handle my emotions. I have done alot of work on this, working on my breathing, being mindful and grounding.

It takes practise but working on my fear, about what I thought would happen and breathing through the fear stopped the automatic reaction. Now my therapist makes me stop talking and just sit with the emotion so I don't push it away, works everytime.

 

[Nighthawk]

Yes this issue seems to be a huge delay in my progress. I so want to be beeter and calm and my other brain keeps fighting me.