18 Subtle Clues That Show Your Child is Bottling Up Their Feelings
As children grow, they often learn to mask their emotions, especially if they feel misunderstood or fear upsetting their parents. While they may seem fine on the surface, deep down they may be struggling with difficult feelings.
Understanding the signs that a child is hiding their emotions can help parents offer the support they need. Here are 18 traits common in kids who keep their feelings hidden.
Avoiding Eye Contact
Children who are hiding their feelings may avoid making eye contact, especially when talking about topics that trigger strong emotions. This can be a sign that they feel uncomfortable or unsure about expressing their feelings openly.
Increased Withdrawal
When kids begin to withdraw more from family activities, it can indicate that they are feeling overwhelmed. They may retreat to their room or isolate themselves from conversations, as a way to cope with emotions they don't know how to handle.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Overreacting to Small Issues
An out-of-proportion reaction to minor issues, like a spilled drink or a missed event, can sometimes indicate deeper, unresolved feelings. The small issue becomes a release for pent-up frustration or anxiety that hasn't been addressed.
Sudden Changes in Behavior
Kids who hide their emotions may exhibit sudden shifts in behavior, such as going from cheerful to irritable or from outgoing to withdrawn. These changes often happen without warning and may be the result of underlying stress or confusion.
Being Overly Polite
Some children may hide their true feelings by being excessively polite or agreeable, even when they are uncomfortable. This is a way of avoiding confrontation or difficult conversations, making it harder for parents to notice they are struggling.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Difficulty Talking About Feelings
Children who bottle up their emotions may struggle to articulate how they’re feeling. If a child constantly answers “I don’t know” when asked about their emotional state, it might indicate that they haven’t processed their feelings yet or feel unable to share them.
Physical Complaints
Kids who suppress their emotions might express their inner turmoil through physical symptoms, like headaches, stomachaches, or tiredness. These complaints are often linked to anxiety or stress, and the child might not even recognize the connection.
Increased Use of Technology
Sometimes, children hide their feelings by burying themselves in technology. Excessive screen time, whether through gaming, social media, or watching videos, can serve as an escape from their emotional struggles.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Perfectionism
Children who are afraid to express their true feelings may become perfectionists, striving for unattainable standards. This is often a way to avoid facing the discomfort or fear of failing in areas they are struggling with emotionally.
Being Secretive
A sudden increase in secrecy about their personal life, whether it’s their social interactions or what they do in their free time, may signal that they are hiding their emotions. They may avoid talking about certain topics because they fear being judged or misunderstood.
Acting Out or Lashing Out
When children hide their feelings, they may act out in other ways, like throwing tantrums, becoming angry, or being rebellious. This can be an attempt to get attention, or it might be a result of bottled-up emotions finally breaking through.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Avoiding Certain Topics
A child who is hiding their emotions may avoid specific topics, like family issues or changes at school, because they don’t know how to talk about their feelings surrounding them. They might change the subject when these topics arise to maintain control over the conversation.
Sudden Interest in Extreme Hobbies
Some children may turn to intense or extreme hobbies to distract themselves from their emotions. This might include participating in high-risk activities or becoming obsessed with certain pursuits as a way to cope with overwhelming feelings.
Excessive People-Pleasing
In an effort to hide their own discomfort or sadness, some children may engage in excessive people-pleasing behavior. They may go out of their way to avoid conflict, prioritize others’ needs, or fail to speak up about their own desires or feelings.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Repetitive Questions or Behaviors
Children who hide their feelings might repetitively ask questions or display repetitive behaviors as a way to cope with anxiety or fear. This is often an attempt to control something in their environment when they feel emotionally out of control.
Increased Sensitivity to Criticism
A child who hides their emotions may become more sensitive to criticism, even if it's minor. They may internalize negative comments more deeply because they are already feeling insecure, overwhelmed, or misunderstood.
Changes in Sleep Patterns
Emotional distress can manifest in changes to a child’s sleep routine. Whether it’s trouble falling asleep, waking up during the night, or sleeping excessively, changes in sleep habits can be a sign that the child is emotionally drained or stressed.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Lack of Interest in Previously Enjoyed Activities
When a child stops participating in activities they once loved, it can indicate that they are struggling with hidden feelings. This lack of enthusiasm might stem from feelings of depression, sadness, or emotional exhaustion.
More from IEPMommy
- Younger Workers Refuse to Follow These 15 Outdated Office Rules
- 16 Reasons Employers Don’t Want to Hire Gen X Candidates Anymore
- The Harsh Realities Boomers Lived That Millennials Didn’t Have to Face
- These 21 Job Skills Are Now Completely Useless in Today’s Workforce
- 19 Old-Fashioned Beliefs That Boomers Cling to but Are Harmful Today
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
