Regulate, Don’t Suppress: What Your Emotions Are Trying to Tell You

Most of us are taught to manage our emotions. But often that turns into suppressing them. We push through. We bottle up. We tell ourselves, “I shouldn’t feel this way.”

But emotions aren’t problems to be fixed. They’re messengers.

Suppression vs. Regulation

• Suppression ignores or silences emotion

• Regulation acknowledges emotion and supports its healthy expression

When we regulate, we give our emotions room to move through us instead of getting stuck inside.

Try This 3-Step Regulation Method:

1. Pause & Name It – “I’m feeling anxious right now.”

2. Body Scan – Where do you feel it? Chest? Stomach? Shoulders?

3. Respond with Care – Breathe, journal, walk, or talk it out

You don’t have to “fix” your feelings. You only need to listen with compassion.

This month, give your emotions the room they deserve—and give yourself the peace that follows.