Title: Why do I struggle to open up? - How to open up to people | Adia
Headings: Why do I struggle to open up to people?
Why do I struggle to open up to people?
Coni Longden-Jefferson
The meaning of opening-up
Reasons why we don’t open up to people
Why it’s healthy to open up to people
How to open up to people
Open up physically
Find the right people to talk to
Know what you want to say
Connect with friends and family more often.
Speak to professionals
How to get someone to talk to you
Choose the right time to talk
Share your own feelings
Listen and validate their feelings

Content: If you’ve grown up in a household where a stiff upper lip is seen as a sign of strength, vulnerability may not come naturally to you. Emotional language is a skill that we learn. If this isn’t taught or nurtured within us from a young age, then it’s not surprising that we struggle to vocalise our feelings as adults. If you have had previous experience of being rejected after being vulnerable – either by a partner or family member, this may also make you cautious about opening up – and that’s totally understandable. In some cases, the reason we can’t open up is that we are scared of admitting our fears or concerns to ourselves. If there is something, that is causing you stress or worry, vocalising it can make it feel more real. Why it’s healthy to open up to people
Keeping your emotions bottled up can have negative effects on your physical, mental and emotional health. When we ruminate on problems in our own heads for too long we can make them seem worse than they are. As the old adage goes, a problem shared is a problem halved! Opening up to people can help you gain perspective and find solutions that you may not have been able to reach on your own.