(emotional) baggage

Emotional pain caused by or related to upsetting or traumatic experiences that one has endured earlier in life. We all carry emotional baggage with us as we go through life, but learning to deal with those fears and insecurities is how we grow as people. It quickly became clear that the woman I was dating had been carrying a lot of baggage that I was just not prepared to deal with. I know you think you have a lot of baggage from your divorce, but who wouldn't? That's such a hard thing to have to go through.

be on an emotional roller coaster

To be experiencing swift and sudden changes in one's mood or feelings, similar to the movement of a roller coaster at an amusement park. I'm on an emotional roller coaster watching this movie—one minute, I'm laughing, then the next I'm crying! Before my mood disorder was diagnosed, I felt like I was constantly on an emotional roller coaster. Yeah, you're definitely on an emotional roller coaster when you're traded multiple times in one season.

See also: an, coaster, emotional, on, roller

be tired and emotional

To be drunk. (A semi-polite or humorous euphemism.) Primarily heard in UK. I might be mistaken, but did it seem to you like Sean's father was a bit tired and emotional at the picnic? You must excuse me, I'm a bit tired and emotional just now. I think I'd best be going home to bed. A: "Please send Miss Clancy away. Edward is tired and emotional right now." B: "Yes, unfit for company, I understand."

emotional affair

An affair in which two people who are attracted to each other (and at least one of whom is in a committed romantic relationship with someone else) engage in a relationship that is emotionally intimate but not sexually or physically intimate. My husband spends so much time with his best friend from work that I'm worried he's having an emotional affair with her. Once my boyfriend voiced his concerns, I realized that I was basically having an emotional affair with my closest male friend. Now, they text each other all day long, and I'm worried they're having an emotional affair.

emotional burnout

Exhaustion from excessive emotional stress or strain, especially such that one can no longer maintain a particular level of performance or dedication. Therapists are especially prone to emotional burnout, given that they constantly provide support to people in their darkest and most difficult moments. I'm not surprised that emotional burnout is widespread among students at those ultra-competitive prep schools. I really struggled with emotional burnout as I went through my divorce. I'm so glad that's behind me now.

emotional cripple

1. Someone who is unable or finds it difficult to form or express emotions, thus hindering their ability to properly relate to other people. Raised by a single father who was at best distant and at worst abusive, Jonathan grew up a cold, emotional cripple, with no friends or companions. I knew I'd become an emotional cripple unless I went to therapy and processed the traumatic experiences from my youth. Communication is so important in relationships. I don't know how you two are going to make it work if he's an emotional cripple.

2. Someone who has become incompetent, indecisive, socially alienated, helpless, or apathetic due to an overwhelming and debilitating experience or abundance of negative emotions. My anxiety has left me an emotional cripple—I can do little more than make myself breakfast each day. When my depression was more severe, I was basically an emotional cripple who could barely get out of bed in the morning. I don't want to take medication for my mental health issues, but I don't want to be an emotional cripple either.

emotional support animal

A pet officially certified by a doctor or mental health professional to travel with one in order to provide some manner of comfort or emotional support (typically relating to a mental health condition). Can I bring my emotional support animal with me on the plane? I'm sorry, ma'am, but a peacock is not an emotional support animal we can allow on the plane. I thought emotional support animals were kind of a joke until I got one of my own. Rover has helped to calm my anxiety immensely!

emotional support dog/cat/etc.

A pet officially certified by a doctor or mental health professional to travel with one in order to provide some manner of comfort or emotional support (typically relating to a mental health condition). The specific type of animal is named after "support" Can I bring my emotional support cat with me on the plane? I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can't allow an emotional support peacock on the plane. I thought emotional support dogs were kind of a joke until I got one of my own. Rover has helped to calm my anxiety immensely!

on an emotional roller coaster

Experiencing swift and sudden changes in one's mood or feelings, similar to the movement of a roller coaster at an amusement park. This movie has me on an emotional roller coaster—one minute, I'm laughing, then the next I'm crying! Before my mood disorder was diagnosed, I felt like I was constantly on an emotional roller coaster.

See also: an, coaster, emotional, on, roller

tired and emotional

A semi-polite or humorous euphemism for drunkenness. Primarily heard in UK. I might be mistaken, but Sean's father looked a bit tired and emotional at the picnic, didn't he? You must excuse me, I'm a bit tired and emotional just now. I think I'd best be going home.

beyond some emotional response

in too extreme a state to feel or care. Do what you want. You have hurt me so much, I am beyond caring. The dying patient is beyond feeling. It doesn't matter now.

tired and emotional

drunk.

This is a humorous euphemism, used originally in newspapers in contexts where the word drunk would lay the publication open to a libel charge. It is particularly associated with the British satirical magazine Private Eye.