Emotions (or feelings) are reactions to the things that happen to us. We all have different ways of expressing feelings and emotions and what's 'normal' for one person may not be for another. It's hard coping with emotions, and it's one of the biggest challenges that human beings have to face, whatever age they are.
Emotions and feelings can be exciting and pleasurable, but they can also cause problems.

• There can be problems if feelings are very extreme e.g. if you become very angry.
• It can be difficult if you are not able to express emotions when it would be the natural thing to do. (Maybe you have lost someone who was close to you, but feel unable to cry or express your sadness, for example)
• If you find it hard to express the emotions which you are feeling, it may be difficult for other people to communicate with you.
• If you have to keep your feelings hidden, it may be that you are channelling your emotions into other things which could be damaging. (For example, if you feel really angry towards someone, but you are frightened to express it, you may find it easier to be angry towards yourself instead.)
• Sometimes people find it hard to know what they are feeling. This may be because they have gone through some very confusing and upsetting circumstances, or because they are not used to expressing their feelings.
  
  

In all these situations, one of the best ways of helping is to talk to someone who you feel you can trust: either because you know them well and/or because you know that their job means that they can be trusted.
Sometimes people find that they can express their feelings and communicate with others through:

• writing things down,
• painting or drawing,
• playing or listening to music.

• Manic depression
• Depression
• Bereavement
• Death
• Mental health
• Stress

For other sources of help:

• LampDirect
• Samaritans