Has your teen ever said, “I shouldn’t feel this way,” or, “If I feel it, it’ll never stop”? These beliefs don’t just make emotions harder to handle. They leave teens stuck, ashamed, and disconnected.
Many teens grow up learning emotional rules that are based on fear, not facts. These emotional myths come from family patterns, school culture, or personal experiences. And while they might sound true, they’re often the reason teens struggle to manage their feelings.
The good news is that these myths can be unlearned.
Through Emotion Regulation skills in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), teens can begin to challenge these beliefs and build a healthier, more confident relationship with their emotions.
What Are Emotional Myths?
Emotional myths are beliefs that distort the way teens understand and relate to their feelings. Here are a few we hear all the time in our DBT sessions:
Myth: “I shouldn’t feel this way.”
Truth: Emotions are not right or wrong. They are natural responses to what’s happening in our lives. Feeling sad, angry, or anxious doesn’t mean something is wrong with your teen. It means something important is happening.
Myth: “If I let myself feel it, I’ll never stop.”
Truth: Emotions are temporary. They rise, peak, and fade—like a wave. The more your teen avoids a feeling, the longer it tends to linger. Leaning into it often brings relief sooner.
Myth: “My emotions define me.”
Truth: Emotions are part of the human experience, not the whole identity. A teen who feels anxious isn’t broken or flawed. They’re having a normal emotional response.
When teens learn to recognize these myths for what they are, they stop seeing emotions as threats and start seeing them as tools for growth.
Lila’s Story
Lila (mock client) was 14 when she started therapy. She believed she needed to “stay positive” at all times. When sadness came up, she pushed it down. Over time, that pressure to avoid her feelings made things worse. She stopped talking to friends, isolated herself, and felt stuck in a cycle of fear and self-blame.
In therapy, Lila learned she was holding onto the belief that “if I feel sad, I’ll fall apart.” Her DBT therapist guided her through a mindfulness practice that helped her sit with the sadness, instead of avoiding it. She noticed that the sadness didn’t drown her. It moved through her.
This one shift changed everything.
Lila started talking about her feelings instead of hiding them. She let people in. She built stronger connections with her parents and peers. And most importantly, she stopped being afraid of her emotions.
Stories like Lila’s are not rare. We see this kind of transformation every week.
Why Challenging Emotional Myths Works
At Creative Healing, we specialize in helping teens understand their emotions, not fear them. By teaching them to identify and challenge emotional myths, we help them build emotional strength that lasts.
Here’s what that shift looks like:
From avoidance to acceptance
From shame to self-compassion
From impulsive reactions to mindful choices
When teens stop believing that emotions are dangerous, they gain real power. They learn how to handle hard moments without shutting down or acting out.
How Parents Can Help
You don’t have to fix your teen’s emotions—but you can support them in facing what’s real. Helping them challenge emotional myths is a powerful step in that direction.
Here’s how you can start:
Listen without judgment
Reflect what you hear instead of offering solutions
Encourage conversations about what emotions mean, not just how to make them go away
And if your teen needs more support, DBT skills like Emotion Regulation can give them a clear, structured path to emotional clarity and self-trust.
Ready to help your teen feel more confident with their emotions?
Our Teen DBT Skills Groups are enrolling now! Reach out today to get started.