Emotions and Impact!

Are You Ignoring Your Gut Feelings?

You know that feeling in your stomach, the one that whispers, “Something isn’t right,” but your mind starts second guessing it? That uneasy sensation, that instinctive reaction, that’s your primary emotions speaking. These gut reactions, fear, joy, sadness, anger, are the first signals we receive, long before our logical brain steps in. But when we doubt ourselves, suppress these feelings, or overanalyse them, we lose touch with what our emotions are truly trying to tell us.

What Are Primary Emotions and Why Do They Matter?

Primary emotions are the first, natural responses we have to a situation. They are deeply instinctual and exist to guide us. Think of a baby, before they have the ability to reason, they express themselves through crying when distressed, smiling when happy, or pulling away when they feel unsafe. These are raw, unfiltered emotional responses designed to keep us connected to ourselves and our needs.

As we grow, we learn to override these emotions, sometimes because of societal expectations, past experiences, or fears of being judged. We convince ourselves that we are overreacting, reading too much into a situation, or being irrational. Over time, this can lead to self-doubt, emotional confusion, and even anxiety or stress.

The Cost of Ignoring Your Gut Feelings

When we repeatedly ignore our gut feelings, we can experience:

• Emotional disconnection – feeling numb or unsure of how we really feel

• Increased stress and anxiety – our body holds onto unresolved emotions, creating

tension

• Relationship struggles – we may struggle to communicate needs, set boundaries,

or trust our intuition about people

• Self-doubt and low confidence – constantly second guessing yourself can wear

away self esteem

Many people in both individual and relationship counselling say they do not trust themselves to make decisions. They hesitate when setting boundaries, struggle to identify what they truly want, or feel trapped in cycles of self-doubt.

This is often because they have spent years ignoring or dismissing their primary emotions.

Reconnecting With Your Emotions Through Therapy

The good news is you can learn to trust yourself again. Emotional therapy provides a safe space to explore these gut reactions, understand where they come from, and begin to rebuild self trust.

Through individual counselling and relationship counselling, I help people:

• Recognise their gut reactions and what they are trying to communicate

• Unpack past experiences that may have led to self-doubt

• Develop self awareness and emotional resilience

• Strengthen relationships by improving communication and emotional connection

When we stop dismissing our feelings and start exploring them, we gain clarity,

confidence, and a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Are You Ready to Start Trusting Yourself?

Next time your stomach tightens, your chest feels heavy, or your heart races, pause.  Listen. Your emotions are guiding you.

Therapy can help you hear them more clearly and understand their message.

If you are ready to reconnect with yourself, I offer both individual and relationship counselling to help you explore and work through your emotions in a supportive space.

Are you ready to take the first step towards trusting yourself again?