Sometimes you might feel an emotion, but not have the words to explain or identify what it is that you are feeling.

If this is the case, know that it is natural. We all have different backgrounds and life experiences. For example, some of us may have grown up in a household where emotions weren’t discussed much, and it isn’t until we are adults faced with life itself when we realize and begin to work on this gap. Others of us may begin to struggle with feelings of depression or anxiety from a young age, requiring a greater understanding of coping skills and emotions than others your age.

The purpose of emotions

Emotions can be positive or negative and can occur at different levels of intensity and frequency. Emotions can serve different purposes, including providing information to us about certain situations, or communicating to others how we feel. Emotions can also serve to motivate us or to help us avoid dangerous situations or potential threats. What’s fascinating about emotions is that they involve a mind body connection, as what we experience is processed in our minds and felt in our bodies and physiological responses. In other words, emotion is multidimensional.

The trouble with emotions is that they are not always right and can sometimes be misleading. For example, some people may feel generalized anxiety and tension all day even in the absence of any threat. Others may be prone to feelings of depression and tend to interpret different situations with a negative thoughts, thus in turn creating greater feelings of depression.

Practicing emotion identification and regulation

Developing a greater awareness of your emotions can help you develop ways to cope with difficult emotions that arise, make healthy decisions, enhance relationships with others, and develop a proactive sense of mastery over your life. Identifying emotions and how you feel in a given situation is often the first critical step towards figuring out how best to manage them.

Below is a list of emotions to help you identify how you may be feeling

Abandoned

Abhor

Absorbed

Acceptance

Aching

Admiration

Adoration

Adrift

Affection

Afraid

Aggravated

Aggressive

Agitated

Agony

Alarmed

Alert

Alienated

Alive

Alone

Amazed

Ambitious

Ambivalent

Amused

Angry

Angst

Anguished

Animated

Animosity

Annoyed

Antagonistic

Anticipating

Antsy

Anxiety

Anxious

Apathetic

Apologetic

Appalled

Appreciative

Apprehensive

Ardent

Aroused

Ashamed

Astonished

Astounded

Attachment

Attraction

Aversion

Awe

Awful

Awkward

Baffled

Bashful

Befuddled

Bemused

Betrayed

Bewildered

Bitter

Blah

Blessed

Bliss

Blithe

Blue

Boastful

Bold

Bored

Bothered

Brave

Breathless

Brooding

Bubbly

Bugged

Calamitous

Calm

Camaraderie

Captivated

Carefree

Caring

Ccutious

Certain

Chagrin

Challenged

Cheerful

Choked

Clueless

Cocky

Cold

Collected

Comfortable

Commiseration

Committed

Compassionate

Complacent

Composed

Concern

Concerned

Confident

Conflicted

Confused

Consternation

Contemplative

Contempt

Content

Contentment

Contrite

Cordial

Courage

Courageous

Cowardly

Cozy

Crabby

Crafty

Cranky

Craving

Crazy

Crestfallen

Cross

Cruel

Crummy

Crushed

Curious

Cynical

Dark

Defeated

Dejected

Delighted

Delirious

Denial

Depressed

Derisive

Desire

Desolation

Despair

Despondent

Detached

Determined

Detestation

Devastated

Devotion

Disappointed

Disbelief

Discouraged

Disdain

Disgraced

Disgruntled

Disgust

Disgusted

Disheartened

Disillusioned

Disinterested

Disliked

Dismal

Dismay

Dismayed

Disoriented

Dispirited

Distaste

Distracted

Distress

Distressed

Distrusting

Disturbed

Doleful

Dopey

Doubtful

Down

Downcast

Drained

Dread

Dreadful

Dreading

Dreary

Dubious

Dumbfounded

Eager

Earnest

Ease

Ebullient

Ecstatic

Edgy

Elated

Embarassed

Embarrassed

Embarrassment

Emotional-Detest

Empathic

Emptiness

Empty

Enchanted

Enchantment

Energetic

Engrossed

Enigmatic

Enjoyment

Enlightened

Enlightenment

Enmity

Enraged

Entertainment

Enthralled

Enthusiasm

Enthusiastic

Envious

Envy

Euphoria

Euphoric

Exasperated

Excited

Excitement

Excluded

Exhausted

Exhilarated

Exhilaration

Expectant

Expectation

Exuberance

Exuberant

Fanatical

Fascinated

Fatigued

Fear

Fearful

Feisty

Felicitous

Fervor

Fight-Or-Flight

Flabbergasted

Floored

Fondness

Foolish

Foreboding

Fortunate

Frazzled

Free

Fretful

Frightened

Frisky

Frustrated

Fulfilled

Fulfillment

Furious

Gay

Genial

Giddy

Glad

Gleeful

Gloomy

Goofy

Grateful

Gratified

Greedy

Grief

Groggy

Grouchy

Grudging

Grumpy

Guarded

Guilt

Guilty

Gung-Ho

Gusto

Hankering

Happy

Harassed

Hate

Hateful

Hatred

Heartache

Heartbroken

Helpless

Hesitant

Hollow

Homesick

Hopeful

Hopeless

Horrified

Hostile

Hot

Humiliated

Humored

Hurt

Hyper

Hysterical

Impatient

Incensed

Indifferent

Indignant

Indignation

Infatuated

Infatuation

Inferior

Infuriated

Inner Peace

Innocent

Insecure

Inspired

Insulted

Intense

Interest

Interested

Intimacy

Intimidated

Intoxicated

Intrigued

Introspective

Invidious

Invigorated

Irascible

Irate

Ire

Irritability

Irritated

Isolated

Jaded

Jealous

Jealousy

Jittery

Jocular

Jocund

Jolly

Jovial

Joy

Joyful

Jubilant

Jumpy

Keen

Kind

Lazy

Lblissful

Left Out

Lethargic

Liberated

Liberation

Lighthearted

Liking

Listless

Lively

Loathsome

Lonely

Longing

Lost

Love

Loved

Lovesick

Loyal

Lucky

Lust

Mad

Mean

Meditative

Melancholic

Melancholy

Mellow

Mercy

Merry

Miffed

Mildness

Mirth

Mischievous

Miserable

Mollified

Moody

Morbid

Mortified

Motivated

Mournful

Mourning

Moved

Mystified

Nasty

Nauseous

Needed

Needy

Neglected

Nervous

Neutral

Nonplussed

Nostalgic

Numb

Obscene

Obsessed

Offended

Optimistic

Outrage

Outraged

Overwhelmed

Pacified

Pain

Panic

Panicked

Panicky

Paranoia

Paranoid

Passion

Pathetic

Peaceful

Peevish

Pensive

Perky

Perplexed

Perturbation

Perturbed

Pessimistic

Petrified

Petty

Petulant

Pity

Playful

Pleased

Pleasure

Positive

Possessive

Powerful

Powerless

Preoccupied

Pride

Protective

Proud

Provoked

Psyched

Pumped

Puzzled

Quiet

Quizzical

Rageful

Rapture

Rattled

Reassured

Receptive

Reflective

Regretful

Rejected

Relaxed

Relief

Relieved

Relish

Reluctance

Remorse

Repugnance

Resentful

Resentment

Resignation

Resolved

Responsible

Restless

Revolted

Revulsion

Rotten

Sad

Safe

Sanguine

Sassy

Satisfied

Scandalized

Scared

Scornful

Secure

Self-Conscious

Selfish

Sensitive

Sensual

Serendipitous

Serene

Settled

Sexy

Shaken

Shame

Shamed

Sheepish

Shock

Shocked

Shy

Sick

Silly

Sincere

Skeptical

Sluggish

Small

Smoldring

Smug

Snappy

Solemn

Solicitous

Somber

Sore

Sorrow

Sorry

Sour

Sparkly

Speechless

Spirited

Spiteful

Sprightly

Startled

Stirred

Stressed

Strong

Stung

Stunned

Stupefied

Submissive

Succor

Suffering

Suffocated

Sullen

Sunny

Superior

Sure

Surprised

Suspicious

Sweet

Sympathetic

Temperamental

Tender

Tense

Terrific

Terrified

Terror

Testy

Thankful

Thirst

Thoughtful

Threatened

Thrilled

Timid

Tired

Titillation

Tormented

Torn

Torture

Touched

Tranquil

Traumatized

Trembly

Trepidation

Triumphant

Troubled

Trust

Trusting

Uncertain

Uncomfortable

Uneasy

Unhappy

Upbeat

Upset

Uptight

Vehement

Vengeful

Vexed

Vicious

Vigilant

Vindicated

Vindictive

Warm

Wary

Weak

Weary

Weird

Welcome

Woe

Wonder

Wonderful

Worn-Out

Worried

Worry

Worthless

Wrathful

Wretched

Yearning

Zeal

Zest

Isn’t it incredible how many emotions there are? Moods are incredibly complex, as they can often involve many different emotions at once and in different shades and intensities. Emotions color our lives in beautiful ways, but at their worst and most intense can also be difficult to suffer through. If this is the case, try working with a therapist who can help support you toward feeling balanced again, able to take negative moods as they come and to celebrate positive moods for the joy they bring.

DBT, mood management, depression treatment psychologist in mclean, falls church, arlington, and vienna

Victoria Chialy Smith, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist providing individual therapy to children, teens, and adults. Our practice provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness based therapies, and other premier evidence-based treatments, and serves the Falls Church, McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Arlington, Alexandria, and the greater Washington DC region. Call, email, or schedule an appointment with us online today. We’re happy to help!