Generally speaking women live longer than men. One of the reasons is that they share their feelings more often. Men tend to stuff their feelings. This is a good practice to continue if you want an early grave. Women have more women friends because of it. Women have better relationships with their male friends because of it. What is self-disclosure? It is the willingness and ability to share your honest feelings, pain, grief, fears, frustrations and anything that if stuffed, will contribute to greater stress and less than satisfying relationships with others. Men were raised to be tough, competitive, to win and not to show emotional weakness. I have never considered sharing your true feelings a weakness, although there have been many times in my life when I have resisted for fear of rejection, embarrassment, and to be perceived as weak by others. I am learning that managed self disclosure builds bridges in relationships and more satisfying outcomes than sharing too little or too much. Tim Connor http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Expressing-Your-Feelings-or-Stuffing-Them?&id=295208

People who have physical scars
hide them with clothing or a mask,
those with emotional scars
hide them with a smile or a laugh.
Unknown