Reduce your anxiety and depression by releasing your emotions and you may find you suddenly feel fabulous!

We are constantly told not to ‘bottle up our emotions’ but this is easier said than done. We live in an age of positivity where we are meant to say we are happy, be happy and put on a smiling face. What if we tell you that is all nonsense.

 What if we tell you it is much better to acknowledge how you are feeling. It is so unhealthy to cover your feelings and to wear a mask. Sure people might think you are happy, but that doesn't mean anything to you! You want to feel happy, not just look happy. Well, the way to really feel happy is, to be honest. If you feel bad, stop saying you feel fine.

If you feel sad, tell somebody you feel sad. If you are depressed, don’t go through it alone. Rumi, the famous 13th-century poet, and philosopher advised people centuries ago to ‘let in your feelings.’ Stop burying sadness, anger or resentment. Stop hiding your loneliness or your anxiety.

Talk about them and you will find your feelings start lifting. And the more you talk, the more other people talk too. We all have feelings that are not happy. We all worry, get sad and sometimes, feel like we are breaking down completely. This is normal! Wearing a smile all day long is not normal. Negative emotions are as important as positive ones.

 Accept the negative emotions, understand they are a part of you and a part of life and stop wearing a mask. You will find that accepting an emotion also means releasing that emotion. Bottling up the emotion means you hold on to it forever.

 Feeling bitter about something? Acknowledge it, talk about it, write it down if you cannot talk about it, accept it, and see what happens. Chances are, and it may take time, your bitterness will ease. One day you will find it’s gone.