Melissa, a mother, struggles to identify and express her emotions, impacting her relationships with her family. The podcast explores topics such as emotional support for children, personal growth after separation, managing emotional pain in parenting, emotions on the autism spectrum, defining love through actions, expressing validation, and the power of feeling understood.
Validating emotions helps create stronger relationships and a sense of closeness.
Recognizing and accepting acts of love leads to emotional intimacy and a stronger connection with a spouse.
Deep dives
Validating emotions in children
Melissa has been working on validating her children's emotions, even in moments when they are upset. She has found it easier to do this after the fact, when everyone is calmer. Although she was initially worried that validating their emotions would reignite their feelings, she realized that it actually helped them calm down quicker. Melissa also noticed that validating their emotions created a sense of closeness, allowing for more eye contact and a stronger connection.
Changing the narrative in her marriage
Melissa has been actively trying to change the narrative she holds about her husband's emotional capabilities in their marriage. She has made an effort to be more aware of his acts of love and express appreciation for them. While initially finding it challenging to believe his gestures, Melissa has started to accept and acknowledge his loving actions. She shared with him her difficulties in recognizing acts of love, and the couple has been working on being more emotionally connected. This has resulted in Melissa feeling closer to her husband and experiencing moments of emotional intimacy.
Validating her own emotions
Throughout her journey, Melissa has come to realize her fear of emotional closeness and her difficulty accepting love. She has made progress in showing self-compassion and engaging in self-soothing practices. Melissa has also acknowledged that she dissociates and feels a sense of danger in loud and emotionally intense moments. By being more receptive to her own emotions and validating them, Melissa has started to experience personal growth and a greater understanding of herself.
Hey, Fellow Travelers. This week we’re in session with Melissa, who has trouble identifying her emotions until they all pour out at once, leaving her kids and husband scared and confused. We help Melissa to get in touch with her feelings and use them to form stronger, healthier relationships with her family--and herself.
If you have a dilemma you’d like to discuss with us—big or small—email us at LoriAndGuy@iHeartMedia.com.
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