Big Feelings: Because Some Feelings Are Too Big to Keep Inside

Some feelings are too big to keep inside. This journal gives teens a safe place to face them.

Big Feelings is a guided journal for teens ages 14 and up who are dealing with emotions that feel overwhelming, confusing, or hard to talk about. It covers the feelings most teens carry but rarely name out loud — loneliness, anxiety, anger, shame, depression, grief, emptiness, and the harder thoughts that can show up when life feels too heavy.

Written by a registered nurse and educator with experience at Johns Hopkins Hospital, this journal speaks directly to teens in plain, honest language — no clinical jargon, no talking down, no pretending everything is fine. Every chapter is designed to help teens understand what they are feeling, why it is happening, and what to do next.

WHAT IS INSIDE:

10 chapters covering the emotions teens struggle with most — from anxiety and anger to grief, shame, depression, and the feelings that are hardest to name

Reflection prompts at the end of every chapter — write, draw, list, or leave blank. There is no wrong way to use them

Lined and dot grid journal pages throughout for free writing and personal reflection

Quick Tools section with grounding techniques and in-the-moment coping strategies

A full crisis resources page with verified helpline numbers including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, The Trevor Project, Teen Line, SAMHSA, NAMI, RAINN, and more

A dedicated section for parents, caregivers, and educators with guidance on how to support a teen who is struggling

A glossary of mental health terms explained in plain language

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR:

Teens (ages 14 and up) who are dealing with big emotions and do not know where to start

Parents and caregivers looking for a tool to open conversations about mental health

School counselors, therapists, and social workers who need a guided journal for individual or group use

Teachers and librarians — educational and classroom use permissions are included

This is not a textbook. It is not a workbook with right answers. It is a journal that meets teens where they are and says: you are not broken, your feelings make sense, and you do not have to figure this out alone.

Includes safety language and crisis resources throughout. Written with care for teens in vulnerable moments.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kimberly Gordon, RN, MSEd, is a registered nurse and educator with experience in hospital, community health, and hospice care, including work at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Visiting Nurse Association of Stamford. She wrote Big Feelings to help teens better understand their emotions and to encourage open, supportive conversations within families and schools.