I've noticed since I was a kid, I was berated for showing my emotions. I don't know if it was because I am a dude but, all I know is I was raised since I was little that I was weak for showing my emotions.

There is nothing wrong with feeling (we are human), it becomes a problem if you are dysregulated. For me personally, I was dysregulated when I was depressed and bottling up my emotions. Which lead to the secondary emotion, rage. I take saffron and omega 3's and that has helped significantly with my anxiety and depression. However, that wasn't enough. I needed to let out the pent up emotion I was keeping inside of me all these years and I finally broke down crying in front of my brother in law and my sister's friend on vacation completely sober.

After a pep talk from the two, I realized the passionate, caring, and emotional individual I once was. He never left. I just suppressed him. I realized I've truly lost myself. After that, I have given myself talks in the mirror with tears in my eyes that I will never bottle up anything ever again and if I ever get judged or reprimanded for it, I am not with the right people or in the right place. 

I've been giving myself hugs daily and I could just feel the love again from my heart which was once a distant memory. I cried before and during writing this because of all those years I wasted living as a different person. But I have to move forward. I'm realizing there are good people on this planet and everybody is deserving of love, and if they hurt me, they are not my people. 

I've gotten way less bitter and my anger outbursts substantially improved. Anyone here come to a similar realization?