FeelingsFeelings

Act Out ActivityAct Out Activity

Guess what feeling is she Guess what feeling is she acting out!acting out!

FeelingsFeelings

• Sometimes we know what a person is Sometimes we know what a person is feeling because they show it.feeling because they show it.

• Other times that person might be Other times that person might be hiding his/her feelings, or we may hiding his/her feelings, or we may have trouble seeing through the have trouble seeing through the shield.shield.

• Many of us become good at hiding Many of us become good at hiding our feelings not only from others but our feelings not only from others but also from ourselves.also from ourselves.

Abused, attacked, pressured to Abused, attacked, pressured to be in a boxbe in a box

• 80% of women will feel depressed at 80% of women will feel depressed at some time in their lives. some time in their lives.

• Depression is linked to the pressure Depression is linked to the pressure to be in the box.to be in the box.

• Rather than feel our feelings we try Rather than feel our feelings we try to ignore them, to keep a stiff upper to ignore them, to keep a stiff upper lip, to smile, to yell, or we use drugs lip, to smile, to yell, or we use drugs to numb ourselves to our feelings.to numb ourselves to our feelings.

Lose touch with ourselvesLose touch with ourselves

• Feelings are what keeps us alive and Feelings are what keeps us alive and tell us valuable information about tell us valuable information about what is going on around us. They what is going on around us. They guide us to action.guide us to action.

• By numbing our feelings we lose By numbing our feelings we lose touch with ourselves/our touch with ourselves/our needs/desires/inner wisdomneeds/desires/inner wisdom

Finding supportFinding support

• Talking to someone can help us Talking to someone can help us express our feelingsexpress our feelings

• To know that we are not aloneTo know that we are not alone

• Get support for stopping self-Get support for stopping self-destructive activities and to heal destructive activities and to heal from pain and grow.from pain and grow.

Expressing Intense FeelingsExpressing Intense Feelings

• Think of a time when you felt Think of a time when you felt depressed, scared, numb, or depressed, scared, numb, or discouraged. discouraged.

• What happened to cause you to feel What happened to cause you to feel this way?this way?

A Time You Felt Intense JoyA Time You Felt Intense Joy

• Think of a time when you felt intense joy, Think of a time when you felt intense joy, excitement, connection to others, strength.excitement, connection to others, strength.

• What caused that feeling?What caused that feeling?• What are ways you could express that feeling?What are ways you could express that feeling?

( Writing, singing, drawing, dancing, talking, sports)( Writing, singing, drawing, dancing, talking, sports)• To whom could you express them?To whom could you express them?• How do people in your family express strong How do people in your family express strong

feelings?feelings?• In your religion/culture or ethnic group how do In your religion/culture or ethnic group how do

people celebrate special events?people celebrate special events?• How do they mark other intense experiences such How do they mark other intense experiences such

as death or separation?as death or separation?

Drawing a FeelingDrawing a Feeling

• Draw a picture to show a feeling you have had Draw a picture to show a feeling you have had recently.recently.

• Instructions:Instructions:– Describe a time when you felt depressed. Why did Describe a time when you felt depressed. Why did

you feel this way? What was the feeling like? How you feel this way? What was the feeling like? How did you express the feeling? Did you tell anyone? did you express the feeling? Did you tell anyone? Whom?Whom?

– Describe a time when you felt excited. Why did you Describe a time when you felt excited. Why did you feel this way? What was the feeling like? How did feel this way? What was the feeling like? How did you express the feeling? Did you tell anyone? you express the feeling? Did you tell anyone? Whom?Whom?

Feeling CrazyFeeling Crazy

• Do you ever think that no one’s listening to you?Do you ever think that no one’s listening to you?• Are you ever angry about things that nobody else Are you ever angry about things that nobody else

seems concerned about?seems concerned about?• Do you ever feel that no one sees who you really Do you ever feel that no one sees who you really

are?are?• Do you ever feel that nobody understands what Do you ever feel that nobody understands what

you have gone through?you have gone through?• Given what you have learned about the Good Girl Given what you have learned about the Good Girl

Box and about the power chart, why do you think Box and about the power chart, why do you think many adults don’t listen to and respond to young many adults don’t listen to and respond to young women?women?

Am I crazy?Am I crazy?

• Not being seen or listened to can Not being seen or listened to can make you feel crazy.make you feel crazy.

• You can also feel crazy if what you You can also feel crazy if what you see and know is not what other see and know is not what other people say is happening.people say is happening.

• Feeling this way can be scary and Feeling this way can be scary and confusing and make you doubt your confusing and make you doubt your feelings, thoughts and sanity.feelings, thoughts and sanity.

DiscussionDiscussion

• Was there ever a time when you felt Was there ever a time when you felt crazy or really different from everyone crazy or really different from everyone around you? around you?

• Did you become discouraged and give Did you become discouraged and give up trying to be heard?up trying to be heard?

• Did you do something self-destructive?Did you do something self-destructive?• If so, what or who gave you strength to If so, what or who gave you strength to

believe in yourself during this period?believe in yourself during this period?

Labeled CrazyLabeled Crazy

• Women who say what they think, step out Women who say what they think, step out of the box, struggle to survive, and get of the box, struggle to survive, and get angry about injustice, or who have angry about injustice, or who have difficulty coping with the world are often difficulty coping with the world are often told to get back into the box.told to get back into the box.

• They are sometimes locked up and labeled They are sometimes locked up and labeled crazy, hit, verbally attacked and told it’s crazy, hit, verbally attacked and told it’s for their own good because they are out of for their own good because they are out of control.control.

Questions Questions

• Have you ever seen any of these Have you ever seen any of these things happen to young or adult things happen to young or adult women you know?women you know?

• Why do you think women are treated Why do you think women are treated this way?this way?

Another Word for CrazyAnother Word for Crazy

• What are some other ways to What are some other ways to describe women without labeling describe women without labeling them crazy?them crazy?– (Exercise 13)(Exercise 13)

Valued LivesValued Lives

• How important do you think it is for How important do you think it is for women to name their own women to name their own experiences and to describe their experiences and to describe their experiences using words that value experiences using words that value their lives?their lives?

• How can you speak out when a How can you speak out when a women is being called “crazy”?women is being called “crazy”?