Friday, 28 December 2018

How To Handle Raw Emotions

By Kathleen Myers


Many, if not all, of us have been faced with a challenging situation that appeared to drive us on the edge. Some problems may be solved easily but many more others require help especially if they threaten to severe our treasured relationships. We should not let raw emotions have the better of us. Rather we should recognize these strong thoughts and feelings and take steps towards normalizing them.

Psychologists often use the term emotional flooding to refer to a state of overwhelming emotions. These emotions tend to be overwhelming and come suddenly hence the use of a flooding metaphor. Although the feelings are usually mixed, one of them will predominate. This may be a feeling such as anger, anxiety, sadness or happiness. The predominant emotion often changes over time.

The triggers of deep emotions are varied. They include, for instance, the recalling of past events, the thought or present stressors and worrying about a difficult future. When one gets lost in these thoughts, they recreate traumatic experiences over and over a situation that only makes things worse. One needs to learn how to adapt on how to deflect such negative thoughts.

Controlled behaviour is arguably the most accessible tool that one can use when dealing with unpleasant emotions. Deep belly breathing has been shown to help with relaxation and minimization of psychological stress. The benefits of this kind of breathing come in small incremental steps. However, it is important to note that emotional flooding may recur thus its important to continue practising deep breathing on a regular basis.

It is important that one understands the exact feelings that they have been confronted with even as they strive to deal with them. Emotional flooding often brings with it a lot of confusion and hence soul searching is needed to identify the exact feelings involved. Acknowledging that there is a problem is the first step in getting a solution. If this is not done, it will result in closed emotional loop likely to make things worse.

Turning back to your support system is also very helpful. Many people will only let their loved ones know of their troubles when things get out of hand. This should not be the case. Rather, getting in touch with your loved ones early enough will help control form of the negative thoughts and feelings right from the start. Trusted colleagues, friends, relatives and religious leaders are all potential sources of much needed support.

Sometimes all that is required is for one to simply take a break. It is difficult to handle and feelings when you have so many other things going on. Taking stock of your emotions in a quiet place will help you forge the best way forward. In some cases, you will be surprised to discover that there is no reason to feel bad at all. While at it, try to focus on the positives in your life and a reason to smile instead of sinking into self pity.

Dealing with various emotions is never easy and especially when they have just been triggered. Strong emotions may lead to self destruction if one does not know how exactly to handle them. Taking time to understand the feelings should be the first step towards deciding on the best way of handling them. It is important to always ask for help when you realize that what you are dealing with is making your life difficult.




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