[My Paper Heart]

I have a bit of a problem recognizing emotions. Being OCPD, I just NEED to have clear cut definition or set of rules for things. And emotions... well, I've learned that the two concepts just don't fit well together.

Obviously, I've tried looking up their definitions in the dictionary. I'm probably nit-picking, but they don't make sense to me. As per Merriam-Webster, happy is defined as "enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment." Happy is a positive emotion, bringing your mood up, but to be content.... Isn't content just baseline, neither up nor down? So then how can being content mean you're happy? As for 'and' in the definition making it only half of the equation, Merriam-Webster then defines well-being as "the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous." Maybe it's the teacher in me but you can't use the word in it's own definition because then you're not actually defining it. So out of all that, I understand absolutely nothing.

Please understand: While understanding what an emotion is and what it means may seem trivial to most, it means the world to me. I've been depressed for so long that I honestly and truly don't know what it means to be happy anymore. My therapist had to tell me that playing with my cat made me happy -- I couldn't even figure that out for myself.

How do you define the various emotions? What do they feel like? What do they mean to you? Happy, sad, angry, disgusted, fear, surprise, anticipation, acceptance, whatever emotions you can think of.

Thank you!

[avlady]

I say for me being happy is being loved and me being able to love back. it is not always like that although which would mean im not happy at the time. Love as an emotion is something i feel in my heart, which makes me content in my mental state. I am depressed usually when im not getting my psychical needs met too. That would mean i'm not content. I don't know how anyone else would understand this as i'm writing it as it comes to me. I hope someone understands me as I don't have any idea of what i'm trying to explain.