r/Emotions

I’ve created a hand-drawn emotion card set for kids and included a special “I don’t know” card. My thinking was that children sometimes experience mixed or confusing feelings and shouldn’t feel pressured to choose an emotion they can’t identify yet.

My son found it really interesting and it often led to conversations like: “I’m not sad… but I’m not happy either.”

Therapists and teachers here: what do you think? Have you seen children benefit from having permission not to know?

we never dated. I was head over heals for him and he would even think of dateing me. We were friends with benefits. Then got pregnant. I was ready to leave everything and be a single mom. After he knew i was pregnant he proposed. We've been married for 20 years now. We have 2 other kids. somewhere along the line. I started to pull away and not find pleasure in having sex is the years we been married when we had sex. He would tap me on the butt and say that was great and go downstairs and sleep on the couch. A few year into our marriage he cheated on me. I found out cause i Suspected something happened. Found AOL(yes I'm old in my 40s) message between the 2. I did confront him about it.said that the only made out. I didnt believe him but i chose to forgive him. Told him if he ever cheated again the kids and I are gone. And the only reason I'm forgiving him was cause he didn't sleep with her.

Our sex life has never been passionate. Most of the time he sleeps on the couch. In our younger year after sex he would tap on on the butt say that was good and go back to the couch. It was like that for years. Now When we do have sex I feel nothing and I do it to keep the peace.

I have Started think that a marriage shouldn't be like this. I dont dislike him. How can I get the passion back. How can I get pleasure back. Did I make a mistake by staying. I

Hi y'all...

First time on Reddit. First time I've ever posted anything on Reddit...first time I've decided to actually *engage* on this website...in the hopes that I may not be alone after all.

I'm 33, male, unemployed, undeserving, and quite frankly...unimportant. We're already in July of 2026...I was wondering if there's anyone else out there who feels they had lost a part of themselves a long time ago, and are wondering if they'll ever get that *spark* or *motivation* to actually *live* their lives, instead of passively existing day by day? Apologies for sounding abstract, or providing such a loaded question here, but just wondering if there's anyone else who also feels *lost* in the way that I'm feeling tonight...alone, afraid, and anxious. Maybe just the knowledge of knowing that there's at least one other person out there who feels something similar to what i'm feeling right now...can help me shoulder the ache, sadness, and regret.

Thanks for reading this far into my ramble...hope you make it towards the next sunrise. 🙂

My ex and I had been dating for 5 mounths she was living with me and I loved her she was light of my life I walk home every night from work and this dude picked me up dropped me off and told me have ur girl text me.turns out she was sleeping with him I had to look in her phone. the next day I found out he wasn't the only one there where multiple men she was seeing and sharing nudes with. I end up breaking up with her and it was hard I was so sad constantly my heart was broken.after two mounths she called and I let her stay the night she wanted to reconcile we made love then later on that day I noticed she was texting other dudes I saw her.that night I told her this is the last time we see each other this is a onetime thing right?she started crying snotting and I told her about that ride home her boy toy gave me and that I dont know what this even is what did she expect she left and I blocked her but some of my heart is just destroyed now.

Hey everyone,

Like many of you in this beautiful community, I’ve spent the last few years fighting a losing battle against the endless scroll. The constant rush of cheap dopamine from short-form content left me feeling emotionally numb, constantly anxious, and deeply disconnected from myself. I eventually realized that my brain wasn’t just tired; it was starved for serotonin—the calm, stable joy that comes from true self-awareness.

Instead of just trying to "willpower" my way out of the trap, I spent the last few months using my background to build a companion tool to help us transition from instant gratification to genuine emotional clarity. I call it Terrapado. It’s a gentle, minimalist app designed specifically for emotion recognition and mindfulness, helping you track how your mind heals when you cut out the digital noise.

The 14-Day Reset Challenge

To make sure this tool actually serves its purpose, I want to host a small, supportive accountability cohort right here. I’m looking for 20 people who are ready to commit to a 14-day dopamine detox with me.

This isn't about just punishing yourself by quitting apps; it's about replacing hollow habits with meaningful self-reflection.

What we’ll do: We will consciously step back from our toxic digital triggers for 14 days.

The tool: You’ll use the Terrapado app for just a few minutes every day to check in with your emotions, map your mental state, and watch your focus return.

My commitment to you: There are no ads, no paywalls, and no hidden catches. Just a shared journey toward clarity. I will be right there with you, adjusting the tool based entirely on your honest healing process.

How to join our little circle:

Because the app is currently in its final private testing phase, Google requires a small group to access it consecutively for 14 days before a public release. I figured this technical hurdle is actually the perfect excuse for us to build a tight-knit support group.

If you’d like to be one of the 20 companions on this 14-day journey, please join our tester group here to get access:

👉 https://groups.google.com/u/3/g/terrapado-testers

Once you're in, I'll guide you through the setup. Let’s stop renting out our precious attention to mindless algorithms and start reclaiming our minds together.

Even if you can't join the challenge right now, I'd love to hear where you currently are in your detox journey in the comments.

Stay grounded, friends.

Sometimes it feels like you are carrying too much for too long. You do not have to fix all of it today. Just put down what you can for a moment.

https://preview.redd.it/2n5jabm1h0bh1.jpg?width=1672&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f523c863f83fee3bdb295ef07d1ddb8f877fdd96

My girlfriend passed away a couple years ago. I have been out with several people and had options in the several years since then, but none were right for me or had complications such as the person not truly being out of their last relationship. I also realized that until Jan 2026 I was not ready emotionally to be with someone new.

I met someone in January right after I felt like I was ready and immediately several friends told me I seemed to be healing from my grief when I was around her. I did not even realize I was still geieving.

We did not do formally date but we're around each other a lot. There was a strong mutual affection.

She also has not dated or slept with anyone for several years. We both had asked the other to be patient with the other.

I will avoid many details as I could go on forever but I want to focus on one point upfront and that point is "I cannot keep but thinking about her". At first I was smitten like a teenager and that was expected while we spent time with each other but currently we are not hanging out as we had sort of a fallout the last time we saw each other about two months ago. What happened was never clearly defined. Before that fallout I discovered that she uses cocaine. In my logical mind this was a deal breaker. In my heart I still felt strongly about her. I tried to exit a couple times but was unable to. Then her last visit happened at my house which caused a break for us but what happened was never clearly defined. I offered to still help her complete her taxes which I had offered to do. So we still had some communication regarding those.

Then came another issue. I thought she was not responding appropriately about her taxes and I told her so. She got upset and said I was just concerned about her which I vehemently denied. We got into some negative texting about it after I told her I could not help her any more. She was very upset. Eventually I stopped communicating with her for about a month as I did not like it our negativity and thought it was not healthy. I told her I would mail her taxes to her and her last belonging. I let them sit on my table and die nothing as it was painful to think about sending them but also painful while they say there. Two weeks ago she messaged me after the month of silence. She said she had not received her taxes. Should she come pick them up.

I said sure but I was busy for a few days. Eventually I told her I would still help her with them. We agreed and since then we had many communications about the taxes and she has responded very politely and never ignores me which is what bothered me before. We have not seen each other yet though.

I would like to see her but feel like we have one item which was brought up in texts that needs to be discussed before I can make an overture.

Until that time I am keeping busy and ok emotionally

My issue is that even though I am not smitten like I was that but I still think about her often and a lot when many daily or somewhat mundane things happen in my life. I wonder quite a bit what would it be like if she was here with me to share many of these moments.

I tell myself the cocaine use and some of her lack of communication, which we discussed, we're not and will not be good for me. But my heart and souls tell me me I need to resolve the one issue and make another effort to reconnect on more than just taxes.

Here it is:

Is this normal for me to feel like this? Should I still feel so strongly about someone who I really admire in a lot of ways but know could be a time bomb waiting happen? FYI: I was with my last girlfriend for over 15 years so I have forgotten what it feels like to meet and or date new people.

Please tell me what you think in the "raw".

I've seen so many people use AI for therapy and emotional support. It seems confusing how artificial intelligence is becoming capable of comforting a human being rather than an experienced therapist. What's the psychology behind this?

A couple of months ago I was kicked out of school and I left behind this girl who was my best friend (I haven’t seen her since) and my heart races every time I think about her and I can’t watch my favorite shows without thinking of her and feeling sad I don’t know if it’s love or sadness or what all I know that I would give up everything just to see her one last time so please tell me how I should deal with these emotions

I’ve new books this… ever since quarantine. Almost other year (with some exceptions of course, as well) my years have turned out like a dream, like absolutely amazing euphoria. Now this is tied to my personal, self-explainable psychology. But when I try to research this exact phenomenon, the net just spits up: “thinking of the past increases[bad reactions]” or links it to some things related to anxiety, depression, really negative states of feeling. When you look up the good, it associates it directly with nostalgia…. This isn’t nostalgia.

It’s rumination but for a time you can no longer cling on to, a time you once had, but now—every damn Time—your heart may shatter at mere distantly-related reminders of those memories or flicks. It’s as if it’s supposed to pain you, on purpose. You have no other way out other than seeking your own way out—but how, if you feel absolutely helpless in your present.

I need some honest advice because I feel like my relationship is slowly falling apart, and I’m not sure if I’m overreacting or if I’m just emotionally exhausted. My boyfriend spends a huge amount of time on his phone, and he’s so untidy that I often have to remind him multiple times to do basic things around the house. When I try to talk to him about something he did that hurt me, he rarely takes responsibility and instead brings up things I’ve done in the past. He has also screamed at me in front of other people, which was embarrassing and hurtful. Another issue is that I feel like he doesn’t want to grow as a person or work on his shortcomings. We also barely do anything together anymore. We rarely go on dates or make plans outside the house, and when I bring it up, he says we already spend enough time together because we’re at home together so much. To me, being in the same space isn’t the same as actually connecting. Lately, I feel like the relationship has become stagnant, and honestly, I feel drained. I’m starting to question whether I even want this relationship anymore, but I don’t know if I’m falling out of love or if I’m just tired of feeling unheard and unappreciated. Has anyone been in a similar situation, and how did you know whether it was time to keep trying or to walk away?

It’s a 2 year relationship

Hey everyone, my problem may feel small to many of you but I really don't know how to handle it, I am new to this. So my problem is i don't know why it affects my mental peace if my female best friend talks to me about her male friends, It's not like I don't want her to have male friends or it's not like I don't want her to not share me about how things are on her side and ik my feelings might be toxic but I really don't know why my whole mood gets spoiled when she randomly talks about her male friends from her college I start feeling like I am not her best friend anymore, can anyone help me out.