My Journey to Emotional Resilience
- Caroline Mayberry
- May 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 7
Understanding Emotional Resilience
I didn’t learn how to feel my feelings until I was 28. Maybe I could sit with my emotions as a child, but I don't recall any such time. What I vividly remember is that I was never taught how to experience my feelings without guilt or shame. Like many women, I learned to hide, minimize, or “fix” my feelings instead of letting them simply exist.
The Impact of Suppressed Emotions
In my teenage years, this led to a long phase of depression and dissociation. My twenties were marked by overmedication, which included the wrong medications. Coupled with self-medication that was always excessive, it became a rough decade. I became numb to just about everything over time.
For nearly five years, life felt dull. The highs were muted, and the lows felt even lower. I realized that I needed to make a significant change. I had become physically dependent on antidepressants in ways I had never imagined possible. It became my top priority to wean myself off them. I started with micrograms, and it wasn't easy. It took over nine months to finally be free of them.
Experiencing Emotions Again
When the last remnants of the medication finally left my system, my emotions returned. However, this time, they felt uncontrollable. For years, I had not felt much at all. The intensity of my feelings surprised me. It was like being a bull tugged around by a sensitive new nose ring, swinging from one state of mind to another with minimal provocation.
During this time, I made more erratic decisions than I had since my teens. It was messy and overwhelming.
Why Learning How to Feel Your Feelings Matters
Life was spiraling before I stumbled upon a realization that changed everything: It is possible to feel your feelings without guilt and not act on them all.
This insight felt completely foreign to me. Yet, it transformed my entire outlook on life. I learned to let my feelings wash over me like waves. They rise, sometimes with surprising force, but then they crash and recede. During that time, I practiced waiting. I let the emotion move through me, often reminding myself that I didn’t need to react immediately.
The Practice of Emotional Awareness
This practice of not taking immediate action in the heat of the moment is ongoing. It's not easy, and I don't always succeed. But, like many things in life, it's something I'm continually working on.
What I’ve Learned (and What I Share With My Clients)
You are not your feelings. Emotions are information, not instructions.
Learn to ride the wave. You can feel deeply without being swept away by it.
You’re not alone. Many women in Wilmington are also learning how to feel their feelings for the first time.
How Lighthouse Life Coaching Supports Women in Wilmington, NC (& beyond!) Navigating Life Transitions
If you’re navigating big changes or have been through therapy and seek a new path, you are not alone. As a global remote life coach based in Wilmington, North Carolina, I specialize in helping women build emotional resilience and confidence during challenging times.
Whether you're experiencing life transitions or simply want to learn how to feel your feelings without being overwhelmed, coaching can help you develop the skills and mindset to move forward with clarity and calm.
The Power of Coaching
Coaching provides a constructive space for discovering new perspectives. It can help you uncover the tools necessary to navigate life’s hurdles. My approach focuses on:
Building emotional awareness
Establishing healthier coping mechanisms
Fostering personal growth
Ready to explore what’s next?
If you’re curious about how life coaching can empower you through life's changes, I invite you to schedule a complimentary discovery call with me. During this relaxed, no-pressure conversation, we will discuss where you are, your hopes, and how my coaching approach can support you in moving forward.
Special Offer
From now until August 2025, everyone who completes a discovery call will receive a free follow-up coaching session—my gift to help you take the next step with confidence and support.
So whether you’re navigating a significant transition, seeking more emotional resilience for women, or simply ready to feel more like yourself again, I’m here to help.
Click here to book your free discovery call and let’s start this journey together!
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