work through feelings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work through feelings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of processing or dealing with emotions, often in a therapeutic or personal development context. Example: "After the breakup, it was important for her to take time to work through her feelings before moving on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They had to witness, and relive, harrowing moments and work through feelings of guilt.

The New York Times

In a good-enough divorce, exes work through feelings of anger, betrayal and loss and arrive at a place of acceptance.

HuffPost

They had gone to a therapist looking to work through feelings of shame around their gender expression, and also some distressing memories of childhood abuse.

Vice

Meanwhile, Brannock tries to help her sister work through feelings of guilt for leading her to a spot along Boylston Street that was closer to the marathon's finish line — and the bomb.

Los Angeles Times

Music can help work through feelings, depending on your needs.

WikiHow

Starting a journal can help you to work through feelings of obsessiveness.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Your words of hope also remind us that working through feelings of depression can be a difficult process.

Columbia University

We know that stuffing feelings leads to anger and resentment but that working through feelings leads to self confidence and empathy.

HuffPost

We are not there to take away feelings, but rather to help our kids work through the feelings.

HuffPost

We therefore concluded that the interview process itself might have provided an opportunity for patients to understand and reorganize their thoughts and feelings, pushing them forward psychologically rather than leaving them to work through their feelings without direction.

BMC Palliative Care

If you have such feelings, it is important to seek some friendly or professional assistance and work through the feelings.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "work through feelings" when you want to emphasize the effort and time involved in understanding complex emotions.

Common error

Avoid using "working through feelings" when you simply mean someone is experiencing emotions without necessarily processing or resolving them. For example, saying "He is working through feelings of joy" is less appropriate if he is just feeling happy without deeper reflection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work through feelings" functions as a verb phrase, often used to describe the process of understanding, processing, and resolving emotional experiences. As Ludwig suggests, it describes an action taken to deal with emotions, rather than simply experiencing them.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "work through feelings" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the process of understanding and resolving emotions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and utility across various contexts. While the phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, it's also utilized in academic and general knowledge domains. To ensure clarity, it's important to use "work through feelings" when you want to emphasize the effort and time involved in understanding complex emotions and to avoid using it to simply describe the experience of emotions. Alternatives like "process emotions", "manage emotions", and "handle emotions" offer similar meanings with slight differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

process emotions

Focuses on the action of dealing with feelings.

manage emotions

Emphasizes controlling and directing feelings.

handle emotions

Highlights coping with feelings effectively.

address emotions

Suggests directly dealing with feelings.

explore emotions

Implies investigating and understanding feelings.

come to terms with emotions

Focuses on accepting and understanding difficult feelings.

grapple with emotions

Highlights struggling to understand and manage feelings.

navigate emotions

Implies maneuvering through complex or challenging feelings.

resolve emotional issues

Focuses on finding solutions and healing from emotional problems.

confront emotions

Suggests facing feelings directly and openly.

FAQs

How can I use "work through feelings" in a sentence?

You can use "work through feelings" to describe a process of understanding and dealing with emotions. For example: "Therapy helped her "work through feelings" of grief after the loss."

What's the difference between "work through feelings" and "process emotions"?

"Work through feelings" implies a more deliberate and effortful process than "process emotions". While both refer to dealing with emotions, "work through" suggests tackling complex or difficult feelings over time.

What are some alternatives to "work through feelings"?

Alternatives include "manage emotions", "handle emotions", or "address emotions", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to "work through" every feeling?

Not necessarily. While it's beneficial to "work through feelings" related to trauma or significant life events, it's not always needed for everyday emotions like fleeting happiness or mild frustration. The context dictates whether deeper processing is required.