We've all been there. Someone you care about seems a little off, and the guessing game begins.

Are you mad? Are you sad? Are you disappointed?

If the response is "no," you know that they are probably lying and you continue to try and pry an answer out of them. But, why are we still doing that? Why are we disguising our feelings, and then using that as fuel for an argument?

They say that we should just know they are upset, and to me the response is simple. I would know if you would tell me. We probably wouldn't be fighting if I knew what you were feeling in the first place, but if you continue to hide your feelings, it will only act as fuel for the argument later.

Instead of playing the guessing game, why can't we just talk?

Why can't we be adults and have the conversations we don't necessarily want to have? It is time to grow up.

We need to talk about our feelings. We need to let people know when we are really upset and when we need help. This also means that we should tell people when we are really happy, it doesn't have to be negative. Feelings are not something to hide from or be ashamed of. Hiding our feelings only leads to distress that can last days or even weeks, while speaking our minds can be a huge weight off our chests, or just a chance to celebrate something good!

So what about the people who get caught up in the games? We've all been there, and I'm here to tell you that it is okay to stop feeling sorry for a person who cannot be straightforward. Stop letting people back you into a corner by saying, "you should have known." Understand that you will not know unless you are a mind reader, but you probably aren't.

It's time to start being blunt. There is nothing wrong with telling someone how you feel, but there is plenty wrong with pretending to be okay and expecting your partner to pick up on the act.