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: When people ask how you are, it’s so common to simply respond with ‘fine’, even if there is so much more going on inside. The true meaning of opening up is being honest and vulnerable and letting others know how you are truly feeling. Sometimes this can also mean learning to be honest with yourself. Reasons why we don’t open up to people
There can be many reasons why we struggle to open up to people. For some, it may be to do with their upbringing. 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.