A Website We Recommend
Sometimes it is hard to identify and communicate how we are feeling. The English language has a rich vocabulary for emotions, and it can help to have somewhere to look when the right word does not come to mind. One of our favorites is Emotion Typology, a website for finding words for feelings.
Ways to Use a Wider Emotional Vocabulary
- Pause and notice. Check in with your body and your thoughts, and see what you can pick up.
- Look for a more specific word. Words like "bad" or "stressed" can cover many different feelings. A more precise word may fit better.
- Share it with someone you trust. Many people find that putting a name to a feeling makes it easier to talk about.
A Note From PPG
Finding words for feelings is a skill that develops over time, and it is a common part of therapy. If you would like support with it, individual therapy is one place to start. If you are thinking about the children in your life, see our post on building emotional intelligence in kids.
Related Care and Reading
- Adult Therapy: Individual therapy for adults.
- Emotional Intelligence in Kids: Habits Parents Can Build: Feelings check-ins and calm spaces for children.
- Are Negative Emotions Bad? A Look at Difficult Feelings: Working with feelings we would rather avoid.
- Getting Out of Your Own Way: Self-Compassion vs. Self-Criticism: When self-judgment gets in the way.
