Under the Stars (Patreon)

"Emotions are not a luxury, they are a complex aid in the fight for existence." -Antonio R. DamasioI've been doing a lot of journaling lately. I realized recently I've been suppressing my emotions since childhood and that may be why I've been feeling so numb. A lot of children learn early on that they have to hide their true feelings and only show what their parents want to see out of survival. They realize upsetting mommy or daddy could lead to suffering, so sensitive children adjust accordingly. Once they become adults, it's finally safe to feel your emotions but they're trapped somewhere deep inside. It often still feels like I have to use the mechanisms that kept me safe as a child, but it leads to so many issues, especially when you want to connect with others emotionally. I'm trying to teach myself that I don't need to use those self-defense tactics anymore, but it's been incredibly difficult.