What It Means To Feel Your Feelings

My Journey to Emotional Resilience

I didn’t learn how to feel my feelings until I was 28.

Maybe there was a time in my childhood when I could sit with my emotions, but if there was, I don’t remember it. What I do remember is never being taught how to experience my feelings without guilt or shame. Like so many women, I learned to hide, minimize, or “fix” my feelings instead of letting them just be.

In my teens, this led to a long period of depression and dissociation. My twenties were marked by overmedication- sometimes the wrong medication, and self-medication which was, similarly, always too much. Over the course of a decade, I became numb to just about everything.

For nearly five years, life felt dull. The highs were muted, the lows… well, everything felt pretty low.

Eventually, I realized I needed to make a change. I realized that I had become physically dependent on antidepressants in a way I didn’t even realize was possible. It became my priority to get off of them. I weaned myself off, microgram by microgram. It was not easy. It took over nine months.

When the last remnants of the medication finally left my system, my emotions returned. But now, they were in control. After years of not feeling much at all, the intensity of my emotions took me by surprise. I felt like a bull being tugged around by a sensitive new nose ring, swinging from one state of mind to another with the slightest provocation.

During that time, I made more erratic decisions than I had since my teens. It was messy, and it was overwhelming.

Why Learning How to Feel Your Feelings Matters

It wasn’t until life truly felt out of hand that I stumbled upon a realization that changed everything:

It is possible to feel your feelings, not feel guilty about them, and also not act on all of them.

This was a completely novel concept to me. And one that changed my entire outlook on life.

I learned to let my feelings wash over me like a wave. They rise up, sometimes with surprising force, but then they crash and recede. In the time it takes for those feelings to peak and then dissipate, I try to wait. I practice pausing, letting the emotion move through me, and reminding myself that I don’t have to react right away.

It’s a constant practice-not taking action in the heat of the feeling. It’s not easy, and I don’t always succeed. But like so many things in life, I’m working on it.

What I’ve Learned (and What I Share With My Clients)

• You are not your feelings. Emotions are information, not instructions.

• You can learn to ride the wave. With practice, you can feel deeply without being swept away.

• You’re not alone. So many women in Wilmington are learning how to feel their feelings for the first time, too.

How Lighthouse Life Coaching Supports Women in Wilmington, NC (& beyond!) Navigating Life Transitions

If you’re navigating big changes or you’ve been through therapy and are looking for a new way forward, you’re 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 navigating 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.

Ready to explore what’s next?

Let’s Connect for a Free Discovery Call

If you’re curious about how life coaching can help you feel more empowered and steady through life’s changes, I invite you to schedule a complimentary discovery call with me. During this relaxed, no-pressure conversation, we’ll talk about where you are, what you’re hoping for, and how my coaching approach can support you in moving forward.

Special Offer

Now through August 2025, everyone who completes a discovery call will receive a free follow-up coaching session - my gift to you, to help you take the next step with confidence and support.

Whether you’re navigating a big 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!