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Day 8 Recognizing Emotions Connected to the Pain

Discussion in 'Structured Educational Program' started by Carma7, Jun 4, 2025.

  1. Carma7

    Carma7 Peer Supporter

    Yes - I can definitely recognize that my emotions and pain are connected. Sometimes I feel like I can stand outside myself and watch as the emotion gets stronger and the pain does too. Incredible! What I am having trouble with, though, is identifying WHAT emotion am I feeling? I think I'm a Stoic on steroids or something (LOL) (emotions were not allowed when I was growing up) so it's really hard for me to figure out if I'm mad, sad, scared, or can I be all of the above at the same time, etc. Journaling is helping, and I'm also remembering seeing something online that was an emotion wheel. I think if I can find that again it will help to have a visual to sort of pick apart what exactly I'm feeling inside.
     
    Carma7, Jun 4, 2025
    #1
  2. Diana-M

    Diana-M Beloved Grand Eagle

    @Carma7
    All of us TMSers have no clue what emotions are. I thought I was the only one until I came on this forum. I’m like a flat line for anger. It just won’t even fire in my body or anything. I don’t even know what it is. Over the past year on the forum, I’ve been learning to notice how it feels in my body— How emotions feel. I’ve been learning what that moment feels like when my mind instantly stuffs a feeling. And I say, “wait a second! I should be feeling that!” An emotion wheel is a really good idea. And all this journaling you’re doing is really going to help a lot! You’re doing great work! Good for you!
     
    Diana-M, Jun 4, 2025
    #2
  3. JanAtheCPA

    JanAtheCPA Beloved Grand Eagle

    My key turning point in the writing exercises was when I observed this voice in my head telling me "Oh, you don't have to write that down, I'm sure it's not really important." Or "that's a little embarrassing let's just skip it, it won't matter. If I came across any idea or thought that made me feel slightly uncomfortable, that inner voice was more than happy to let me off the hook and tell me it wasn't necessary to put it on the paper.

    We all have that inner voice, and it is NOT your friend when it comes to doing this work. I didn't even have any significant trauma in my life history at the time I was doing the SEP (at age 60!) and yet it was reeeally hard to force myself to write down the things that made me uncomfortable! Doing it brought me relief, interesting revelation, and more freedom to keep facing the negative emotions that we continue to compile just by living our lives.

    I also know all about growing up in a house where, even though we had a terrific upbringing and a lot of love as well as freedom, expressing emotions was not encouraged, because of course my parents were not people who were raised to express emotions. Having known three of my grandparents - again, good people and good parents, in hindsight I see it in them as well.

    Remember that when you journal, you can dispose of what you write, and in fact two TMS practitioners and authors recommend doing so. I prefer the term "writing shit down" to remind myself to just scribble it out onto the paper with complete disregard for readability, and especially to adhere to the first rule of emotional journaling, which is No Editing!
     
    JanAtheCPA, Jun 4, 2025
    #3
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