In our lifetime as human beings, we will experience many different kinds of emotions. Some emotions can make us feel positive and carefree, like happy and calm. However, oftentimes when we are happy, for instance, we may forget to turn to things like a higher power, faith, and our support systems, to name a few. So what happens when we experience difficult emotions like sadness, grief, anxiety, anger, or even when we hit rock bottom? How do we put the pieces back together and find comfort amid difficult emotions?

Let us not forget that sometimes we try to avoid difficult emotions. Avoiding difficult emotions does not resolve any issues and instead prolongs the issues. We may turn to our cell phones to distract from anxiety or sadness, but what happens when we put our phones down and do nothing? We will most likely feel discomfort, and that is okay. When we begin to feel the discomfort of difficult emotions, we can begin to identify, understand, practice nonjudgment, and express our emotions. In addition, we will develop and use coping skills to work through our emotions. We can control our emotions, our emotions do not have to control us.

In therapy, you will learn these very steps (1. Identify 2. Understand 3. Practice nonjudgment 4. Express emotions 5. Develop/Use Coping Skills) in working through difficult emotions. You do not have to be alone. It is okay to not be okay. Oftentimes, I may ask, “What would you tell a friend?” Hint: This is a challenge in identifying what you may need to tell yourself.