[CrabHammer]

I've noticed that every time I'm upset, my emotions always come out as frustration. Angry, sad, depressed. In the end, all this really ends up amounting to is frustration. Do you experience negative emotions in a similar way?

[Saint Darkness72]

Yep. Exactly what you described.

[Socrates]

Frustration is the word I use for negative emotions of any sort. Frustration or depression, same difference.

[LQ9]

Yes--because I'm frustrated that I'm feeling a negative emotion in the first place. I'm frustrated that such an emotion is impeding my ability to see things rationally and that I can't explain or show how I'm actually feeling and would prefer to be treated.

[honestfi]

Yes. Was once misinterpreted as aggression by an old boss.

[CrabHammer]

I guess my main concern is that there has to be a much wider spectrum of emotion to experience right? I seems like it would be easier to deal with bad feelings if I could actually identify them, and not just end up frustrated all the time.

[Radiant Flux]

***nods***

[honestfi]

I seems like it would be easier to deal with bad feelings if I could actually identify them, and not just end up frustrated all the time.

Omigosh absolutely. When I went through adolescence, I went through such a raft of emotions and the worst thing about it is was I couldn't explain what was wrong, because I didn't understand the emotions I was feeling myself. My adolescence was probably the same as any normal teenager, but I do remember 6 months in particular that were torrid.

I was a timid goose at the time, but there was a shrink at college who was simply wonderful. I never got a chance to thank her, one of my big regrets, and she sent me a letter when I left college (end of adolescence, whilst I got my head together). Basically, she made me feel I shouldn't be afraid to feel. I only saw her twice, but my emotions were so tightly bottled, with no outlet or very close friends, I went off like a bottle of shaken soda.

Even now, I have no proper outlet, and I must sound like a raving mad woman when I go "off on one". But I least I express it now, which I never did when I was 17. And somehow I think I'm better for it. Maybe I'll never understand why I react the way I do when a particular situation makes me mad or excited. The colder emotions, such as fear, worry, uncertainty, the stuff that you may only see in a person's face, make me totally clam up. I can't think straight. And that gets me more worked up and fearful. If I can get a grip on these emotions I will be very happy. I can just about control the aggressive outlet, by the grace of God.

[Dupree]

Yes. Was once misinterpreted as aggression by an old boss.

Heh... I've always said I never get angry, only frustrated.

[Electric Nate]

fustration is the only emotion i really can't handle. I lose it, over insignificant shit. Some horrible event could happen that changes my life for the worse, but I won't get mad about that, i'll get mad about knocking over a drink that I was trying really had not to knock over. I scream and shout and smash things when I get frustrated, or punch walls and doors and furniture. Maybe I just save up all my anger until something completely not worth bothering about happens.