Only room for one

I think most people tend to feel a lot of things at once. But when I'm angry, that's all I am. When I'm happy, I'm happy (although that can change in a heartbeat). When I'm guilty, there's no room for anything else. The only thing that seems to coexist with the rest is a sense of being incapable of doing anything right. Does anyone else experience this?

Yep. Can't think of a time I was in more than one mood. Maybe content? would cover a couple?

Anger for sure is all by itself...I think.

Good question.

I think that's more of the black and white thinking. We're all or nothing. As is the world. We hate or love. We're angry or sad or happy; never both or more than one. I think that's part of what DBT tries to teach us; that dichotomy exists in the world and in us and we need to recognize it in order to relate to the world and to ourselves.

Just because we can't see ourselves being angry and happy doesn't mean it doesn't happen. We just can't (or refuse) to see it.

Some days I can see the dichotomy in myself. I can understand and accept that I am angry at this one person's actions, but I won't let it bleed into the rest of my emotions. Other days, I'm just angry at the world. Seeing the dichotomy in the world is much more difficult for me. I have a hard time seeing someone as both a good and a bad person. I definitely split when it comes to other people.

This illness is so broad in its definition sometimes. And it's such a chameleon. It can look like so many other things. Yet some things, like black and white thinking/splitting, is such a core symptom that we can all relate to.

Hope that helps some. Sorry for the rambling....

I know that there are times where I feel mostly one thing but I dont' think that any of my emotions or moods are really truly just singularly existent. I can feel anger and sadness at the same time or be fearfully anxious, or any combination of emotions. I think that at least for me, one emotion is usually predominant and we can see that as the only thing we feel in the moment but I don't think it's ever that simple.

Yes I can feel several emotions at once, not knowing which one is real.
I know which one i want to feel at the time or should feel. But it's not always the one that shows.
If that makes sense!

Anger how ever rules the roost.. But it never shocks me how quick I fly from raging to calm.
I hate the anger the most, because when I actually should be angry or speak up I say nothing. I keep shut.

And then my poor love ones get my build up of anger. By shouting at them for asking such a simple question. Then I have the evening to try and find a way to make it up to them and leave my guilt

I sure do.

Carol