Emotions...Too many? Too little? Too late?

Have you ever felt like you didn't quite fit in?  Maybe you have difficulty reading the emotions of others, or feel you have no emotional response in certain situations?  Sometimes overreact? Sometimes feel empty?  Do you ask your self " Is there more to life? " 

As an adult, have you wondered why you never quite 'feel' anything?  Sometimes feel empty/hollow/numb? Do you question why others seem to be more fulfilled?  Why are you like that? How did you get there? There may be answers. 

Emotional responses are learned very early in life. If you grew up in a home void of emotion, or filled with raging emotions, it may have been difficult to know what a 'normal' response is. Childhood Emotional Neglect, either by passive disregard or active invalidation plays a role in a child's ability to process and develop emotions. The way you were raised, the emotional intellect of your parents, and how they responded to you can help to explain the disconnect in adulthood.
Why is it important to look back at that? 
All of life's memorable moments are the ones that involve an emotional response ; joy, love, courage, fear, self-control, pride, self-esteem, sadness, cooperation, guilt....
We remember events, situations, and people, because we attach an emotion to them.  The emotions make us passionate and whole and make memories worth keeping. 
It's not likely that you are  'emotionless'.  Understanding why you respond the way you do ( or don't ) can be beneficial, but it doesn't end there. 
Safe to say, once we know what no longer serves us emotionally, where it came from, and how it has affected our lives, we can move to re-learning what we missed out on from the beginning.  Life gives us second chances and it's never too late. 

Stay well, Be peaceful
​KarenJ Fluet Roy, LMHC, NCC, BSN RN