If you’re one of those people who bottles up their emotions, you may relate to some of these truths. Expressing our emotions can be difficult and some of us have a hard time with it. The fear of hurting someone’s feelings can cause any of us hold back what we truly feel. Likewise, some of us just don’t want to burden others with our problems or feelings.

Balance is important when expressing emotions. It is true that not every feeling needs to be shared with everyone but then again, not everything needs to be bottled up either. Responding honestly and appropriately is where the balance lies. 

10 Truths of People Who Bottle Up Their Emotions

1. You want to appear in control of your emotions.

Unfortunately, working so hard to control your emotions does not dismiss the fact that you actually feel them. Those feeling are still inside you, sometimes even yelling at you to let them out. Looking okay does not mean you feel okay on the inside.

2. You are highly tuned into the feelings of those around you.

Often, you do connect with the emotions others are feeling. This can be overwhelming, to sense what they sense, and then have your own feelings in response to have to handle. This can confuse you on the inside, leading to the inability to understand them and to express what you feel in response.

3. You feel your emotions intensely.

You have the same emotions as others, but you feel them more deeply and intensely. This is hard on you and may cause you to feel like you need to habitually suppress them. This “pressurized” way of being is hard.

4. You can manage a crisis well.

It is true that being able to restrain your own emotions can help in the management of a crisis. You perform well under pressure because of this. You can help others through a crisis and you also make great decisions in these situations.

5. You can manage negativity from others.

It frustrates you even more, but you are usually non-reactive to negative people. Your insides are telling you to let them have it, but you just smile and say something like, “I understand.” While this can diffuse volatile situation, it can also fester inside you because you did not say what you wanted to say.

6. You worry about whether others can handle the truth.

You often worry about how others will handle the truth. Therefore, you do not consistently practice sharing your honest emotions. You don’t want others to feel badly and you especially don’t like to hurt others. You even sometimes just like to avoid a disagreement. You avoid these emotions for them by not sharing how you feel. You hold back and you don’t speak your truth.

7. You worry that crying makes you appear weak.

There is an abundance of research about the healing nature of tears. Yes, crying shows your humanity, but this can actually aid in building respect. This is not what you have been thinking. Still, we do not need to cry over every situation. 

8. You are hesitant to share worries.

You don’t want to stress others out and sometimes you also may actually feel a bit unsure of yourself. You therefore are hesitant to share your worries with others. You don’t want people to think less of you or think you don’t have things under control.

9. You are slow to speak up.

You don’t often speak up like you should. You often think of many things you should have said after the fact. Likewise, when you hold in your emotions, you develop a tangled mess of feelings inside. Then when you try to express those feelings, they usually come out in jumbles

10. You’re probably a bit of an introvert too or just need your space.

People who keep things inside tend to need their space and/or tend to have an introverted personality. See 19 Signs You’re Introverted, Not Shy.