And I'll add - what other people are feeling........ despite how they look or act from my perspective.
HUGE point there by Twice. It was pointed out to me that one of the most damaging mental activities in which we engage is the act of comparison. Most of the time we are comparing our internal feelings with others' outward appearance. We become self-deprecating, have a sense of isolation, or feel guilty for having certain emotions in light of our circumstances vs. theirs. All this is based on a perception and not the truth.
I feel sad but they look or act happy. I feel scared but they look or act fearless. I feel awkward in this social setting but they look or act natural and at ease.
What Twice illustrated through his own experience is one of the major benefits of good work with a professional, or for those of us with an 'ism, the benefits of a thorough walk through a 12-step program. It forces you to get those emotions past your teeth and in discussion you find out that your feelings aren't unique and others struggle with the same deals.
It's the SWAN analogy - gliding gracefully across the water. What you don't see is that bird is paddling like a sumbitch under the surface. Each swan knows it is, but it's outward appearance doesn't portray that. The other swans just see the grace on the surface and all think they must be the only ones struggling to keep up.
This thread provides some benefit in this manner because it's a method to spit out those emotions in a non-threatening venue, and hear back that others relate.
Working with a professional to wade through those emotions (if you are honest about it) helps people realize that feelings aren't facts, and that while we can't control our initial emotions, we can control what we do with them. What CBT helps us do is to take those natural emotions and process through them using specific tools and a different perspective.