I have the same issue. My coping mechanism has always been to stuff everything, hide it in a box in my mind, and never feel it again. This led to explosive episodes of rage when I had really taken all that I could take.

I haven't found a good way to work this yet. My meds have helped by dulling my overly emotional responses. I recognize in my head that I'm content or aggravated, angry and upset, and occasionally giddy and happy. What no longer happens is the physical response, elevated heart rate, adrenaline rush, trembling hands, and hyperventilating.

That makes it a lot less scary to feel them and acknowledge them, but I still don't know exactly what to do after that.

Do I wallow in it, which is so opposite of stuffing it? Do I acknowledge it and let it go, because that feels like stuffing to me?

In my relationships it has helped tremendously because I no longer argue, explode, and run away. When my teenager picks a fight with me I respond with a very flat affect, and she says it's condescending. But she and I have much deeper conversations now because we don't light each other's fuse and wait for the Big Bang. In fact, she gets sick of talking and asks to be excused before I am finished, so it is already making a huge difference.

Let me know if you have any other advice, I'm all ears!

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