Big Feelings, Emotional Growth, and Mental Health

Many people wonder if big feelings mean you are "too sensitive," "overly emotional," or "not resilient enough." Big feelings aren't a sign of weakness. They are part of how our minds and bodies respond to stress, pressure, change, disappointment, and even excitement about things we care about deeply.

I often use the phrase "It's what you do with them that matters" in my BIG Feelings work. This simple reminder captures something essential: feelings themselves aren't the problem. It's how we interpret and act on them that shapes our experiences.

Friendships can feel risky, especially if you’ve been hurt before. Social anxiety and rejection sensitivity make reaching out feel overwhelming, but your feelings are valid - and you’re not alone. In this post, I share gentle tools to help teens and young adults cope with social stress, plus my own experience of losing friendships in high school and college and eventually finding lasting connection.