Do you express your emotions?

I grew up constantly admonished for being emotional.  If I cried I was told not to.  If I was angry I was told to stuff it and move on.  If I was happy and giddy i was told to tone it down.

I am not overly emotional - I understand expressions of emotions have a time and place and degree of acceptability.  Shouting at your boss, for example, is a no-no.

But it seems to me that expression of emotion is purely human and that some people just are not comfortable with emotion.  Either their own or someone elses.

What is your take?

(ps - I had an awful day yesterday and my mother told me to stuff it -plththth)

Hell, I'm British... Emotions are something that 'johnny foreigner' is prone to! Arm-waving mediterranean types are 'excitable'. Those kissy-kissy greeting so beloved of the French are incredibly embarrassing. And the American fondness for schmaltz in all forms is quite toe-curling. LOL!

I definitely think there's a time and a place for raw emotion. If you're annoyed about something, be assertive. If you're upset about something, express yourself. And if there's a truly appalling tragedy happening to you, (rather than something trivial) by all means cry. But you don't have to go over the top to make your point.

I grew up with much the same scolding as you did, madamq.  In my immediate family, I showed emotion without too much trouble (as long as I didn't cry in front of my father), but my mother wanted me to swallow most of my emotion because she didn't want other people to feel bad.  In other words, take that mayonnaise and balonga sandwich, even though you don't like either, and eat it with a smile, and say it was delicious.

These days, I'm trying to find a balance between letting people know how I feel and going overboard.  I am still trying to gain some assertiveness, while still not being offensive.  I still cry when I have too many emotions inside me, but I think I am getting better.

I find it easier to express negative emotions than positive ones for some reason.

i usually don't hold back my emotions, especially when i am sad or angry... i can't seem to tone those down lol :)

My parents usually encourage my sister and I to express our emotions, as long as we did it "healthily". I don't really like to express my emotions though. Sometimes my friends call me a Vulcan. :)

One of my guy friends has three overly-emotional sisters and a very emotional mother. I confuse the crap out of him. lol.

I always seem to get mad at the wrong person ... I don't know! It's like I'm keeping it together when I should be speaking my mind ... and speaking my mind when I should keep it together!!!

I believe I am a spontaneous person...very...I do not normally think about every word I say or every thing I do..sometimes I do things or act a certain way or say something because I just feel like it...

I think this is the best feeling...to just be yourself and not having to think too much of every friggin' word you say or every thing you do...it is boring like that...

Original Post by coffincritter:

I find it easier to express negative emotions than positive ones for some reason.

Same. I don't know how to show happiness.

Controlling emotions is about controlling yourself....

Emotions can be powerful, that is why it is so important to learn how to control your emotions so you have a chance to control those stronger instances of them.

Sure, there is a time and place for emotions to take over (when no harm can be done, or to let us enjoy the moment), but most the time when emotions take over...our judgement leaves us.

So, we should strive to better control ourselves and our emotions....making sure we understand that emotions in of themselves are not bad, simply the things they make us do can be.

Hmm, is it like drinking perhaps? Sure, it is fine to go out and get drunk at a bar...no harm. But there is a time and place to do that! Drinking while at work is probably something you want to control....

I think I am ok with showing any emotion when/if I want.  I don't make emotional choices though.  If I feel like I can't control myself because my emotions are crazy at the time, I avoid any and all major decisions and tend to avoid people until I get it back in order.

I dont really express my emotions, I tend to hold back. I wont cry infront of people unless Im really really upset over something.

When I was younger we were brought up to sit and behave and be quiet, so when we went out into public we didnt run around lots and be very loud.So now I think that affects how I express even being happy. You see lots of people when they received happy news jumping and screaming and looking really happy, whereas, I wouldnt do that and to an outside person it may look as though Im not happy but really I am, Im just not showing it well. Not sure if that made sense. Overall I tend to hold back.

Original Post by loriklorik:

Controlling emotions is about controlling yourself....

Emotions can be powerful, that is why it is so important to learn how to control your emotions so you have a chance to control those stronger instances of them.

Sure, there is a time and place for emotions to take over (when no harm can be done, or to let us enjoy the moment), but most the time when emotions take over...our judgement leaves us.

So, we should strive to better control ourselves and our emotions....making sure we understand that emotions in of themselves are not bad, simply the things they make us do can be.

Hmm, is it like drinking perhaps? Sure, it is fine to go out and get drunk at a bar...no harm. But there is a time and place to do that! Drinking while at work is probably something you want to control....

 I do agree with this, for the most part. 

But I don't quite know how to control it.  I can control my anger, but I cannot control being sad or upset.  I've been working on it for 33 years, because shedding tears easily is very embarrassing.

But, I am also a very open person.  I don't have a secret self within, really.  What you see is what you get, and for the most part, I think I'm pretty mild-mannered.

I always express my emotions which leads to either looking like a fool, getting in trouble or pissing someone off!..

Original Post by puh8suwrux:

Original Post by loriklorik:

Controlling emotions is about controlling yourself....

Emotions can be powerful, that is why it is so important to learn how to control your emotions so you have a chance to control those stronger instances of them.

Sure, there is a time and place for emotions to take over (when no harm can be done, or to let us enjoy the moment), but most the time when emotions take over...our judgement leaves us.

So, we should strive to better control ourselves and our emotions....making sure we understand that emotions in of themselves are not bad, simply the things they make us do can be.

Hmm, is it like drinking perhaps? Sure, it is fine to go out and get drunk at a bar...no harm. But there is a time and place to do that! Drinking while at work is probably something you want to control....

 I do agree with this, for the most part. 

But I don't quite know how to control it.  I can control my anger, but I cannot control being sad or upset.  I've been working on it for 33 years, because shedding tears easily is very embarrassing.

But, I am also a very open person.  I don't have a secret self within, really.  What you see is what you get, and for the most part, I think I'm pretty mild-mannered.

 When you first start controlling your emotions, I found that picturing the opposite of the emotion helps. Like, if you can't help laughing...picturing your family dying or something. Also, removing yourself from a sittuation and trying to observe it from a 3rd person view helps. That way you aren't dealing with your own issue, you are just acting on an issue objectively.

I think it is a balancing act. You don't want to completely shut yourself off from emotion or the ability to show it, but you also don't want it to have complete control over you.

I show emotions, just not the sad ones :)

Crying to me is something very personal, and I do not like doing it in front of others. It's very private, and I like to grieve on my own. 

I was brought up with the "get a grip" attitude I have never really been able to show nice emotions but as said before I can be guilty of showing the not so nice ones not so much now though.

I tend to show no outward emotions for anything these days, I still feel them more than I wish but no one really knows what is going on with me or how to take me, I keep good and bad all to myself.

Original Post by jcl76:

I show emotions, just not the sad ones :)

Crying to me is something very personal, and I do not like doing it in front of others. It's very private, and I like to grieve on my own. 

I'm the same. I cried in front of my boyfriend last weekend for the first time regarding something about my family. I had to run to the bathroom haha. 

Negative emotions, yes

Sad and Happy, can't do it