Name your feelings

Counsellors often ask how you feel about something because they want to help you experience and process any bottled-up emotions, so that you can deal with the situation better and eventually move on. The English language is rich with ‘feelings’ words, so why do we find it so hard to name our feelings?

Sometimes, it can be helpful to look at a list of feelings words to tick off all the ones that apply. So for example, are you feeling angry? Or are you also feeling:

furious

indignant

hostile

grumpy

irate

aggrieved

displeased

cross

vexed

resentful

aggravated

enraged

irritated

belligerent

disgruntled

wrathful

incensed

incandescent

galled

piqued

irked

tetchy

testy

antagonistic

mad

grouchy

crabby

livid

snappy

ratty

stroppy

edgy…