Is it normal to repress your emotions?
It’s normal to hold emotions back sometimes, especially when you need to get through a situation. If you regularly push feelings away or feel unable to express them, it may be worth looking at what’s making that feel necessary.
Most people have moments when they swallow a reaction, put feelings aside until later, or keep a straight face to get through the day. That’s not automatically a problem; sometimes it’s useful and you can deal with the feelings when you have more privacy or space.
It can get tiring when pushing emotions down becomes your only way of coping. Feelings you avoid may show up later as irritability, numbness, or stress, and it can make it harder to tell other people what you need. You don’t have to spill everything to everyone—starting by naming the feeling to yourself or talking with someone you trust can be enough.