Affluent Savvy
Photo by Pixabay Pexels Logo Photo: Pixabay

How do I stop being struggling emotionally?

Here are some pointers to get you started. Take a look at the impact of your emotions. Intense emotions aren't all bad. ... Aim for regulation, not repression. ... Identify what you're feeling. ... Accept your emotions — all of them. ... Keep a mood journal. ... Take a deep breath. ... Know when to express yourself. ... Give yourself some space. More items... •

How does the 52 week challenge work?
How does the 52 week challenge work?

The 52-week money challenge is a savings plan that has you set aside money a week at a time, increasing the amount saved by $1 every week. Making a...

Read More »
What is the best vitamin for focus?
What is the best vitamin for focus?

Vitamin D3 and B vitamins. D3 helps to boost your concentration levels. It's key for healthy nerve function and overall functioning of your body...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Share on Pinterest The ability to experience and express emotions is more important than you might realize. As the felt response to a given situation, emotions play a key part in your reactions. When you’re in tune with them, you have access to important knowledge that helps with: decision-making

relationship success

day-to-day interactions

self-care While emotions can have a helpful role in your daily life, they can take a toll on your emotional health and interpersonal relationships when they start to feel out of control. Vicki Botnick, a therapist in Tarzana, California, explains that any emotion — even elation, joy, or others you’d typically view as positive — can intensify to a point where it becomes difficult to control. With a little practice, though, you can take back the reigns. Two studies from 2010 suggest that having good emotional regulation skills is linked to well-being. Plus, the second one found a potential link between these skills and financial success, so putting in some work on that front may literally pay off. Here are some pointers to get you started. 1. Take a look at the impact of your emotions Intense emotions aren’t all bad. “Emotions make our lives exciting, unique, and vibrant,” Botnick says. “Strong feelings can signify that we embrace life fully, that we’re not repressing our natural reactions.” It’s perfectly normal to experience some emotional overwhelm on occasion— when something wonderful happens, when something terrible happens, when you feel like you’ve missed out. So, how do you know when there’s a problem? Emotions that regularly get out of hand might lead to: relationship or friendship conflict

difficulty relating to others

trouble at work or school

an urge to use substances to help manage your emotions

physical or emotional outbursts Find some time to take stock of just how your uncontrolled emotions are affecting your day-to-day life. This will make it easier to identify problem areas (and track your success). 2. Aim for regulation, not repression You can’t control your emotions with a dial (if only it were that easy!). But imagine, for a moment, that you could manage emotions this way. You wouldn’t want to leave them running at maximum all the time. You also wouldn’t want to switch them off entirely, either. When you suppress or repress emotions, you’re preventing yourself from experiencing and expressing feelings. This can happen consciously (suppression) or unconsciously (repression). Either can contribute to mental and physical health symptoms, including: anxiety

depression

sleep issues

muscle tension and pain

difficulty managing stress

substance misuse When learning to exercise control over emotions, make sure you aren’t just sweeping them under the rug. Healthy emotional expression involves finding some balance between overwhelming emotions and no emotions at all. 3. Identify what you’re feeling Taking a moment to check in with yourself about your mood can help you begin gaining back control. Say you’ve been seeing someone for a few months. You tried planning a date last week, but they said they didn’t have time. Yesterday, you texted again, saying, “I’d like to see you soon. Can you meet this week?” They finally reply, more than a day later: “Can’t. Busy.” You’re suddenly extremely upset. Without stopping to think, you hurl your phone across the room, knock over your wastebasket, and kick your desk, stubbing your toe. Interrupt yourself by asking: What am I feeling right now? (disappointed, confused, furious) (disappointed, confused, furious) What happened to make me feel this way? (They brushed me off with no explanation.) (They brushed me off with no explanation.) Does the situation have a different explanation that might make sense? (Maybe they’re stressed, sick, or dealing with something else they don’t feel comfortable explaining. They might plan to explain more when they can.) (Maybe they’re stressed, sick, or dealing with something else they don’t feel comfortable explaining. They might plan to explain more when they can.) What do I want to do about these feelings? (Scream, vent my frustration by throwing things, text back something rude.) (Scream, vent my frustration by throwing things, text back something rude.) Is there a better way of coping with them? (Ask if everything’s OK. Ask when they’re free next. Go for a walk or run.) By considering possible alternatives, you’re reframing your thoughts, which can help you modify your first extreme reaction. It can take some time before this response becomes a habit. With practice, going through these steps in your head will become easier (and more effective).

Which planet gives sudden wealth?
Which planet gives sudden wealth?

Venus represents wealth or money as it rules the second house of wealth in the natural zodiac. Sep 4, 2021

Read More »
Which oil is good for heart and kidney?
Which oil is good for heart and kidney?

Olive oil Olive oil is a healthy source of fat and phosphorus-free, making it a great option for people with kidney disease. Nov 18, 2019

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

4. Accept your emotions — all of them If you’re trying to get better at managing emotions, you might try downplaying your feelings to yourself. When you hyperventilate after receiving good news or collapse on the floor screaming and sobbing when you can’t find your keys, it might seem helpful to tell yourself, “Just calm down,” or “It’s not that big of a deal, so don’t freak out.” But this invalidates your experience. It is a big deal to you. Accepting emotions as they come helps you get more comfortable with them. Increasing your comfort around intense emotions allows you to fully feel them without reacting in extreme, unhelpful ways. To practice accepting emotions, try thinking of them as messengers. They’re not “good” or “bad.” They’re neutral. Maybe they bring up unpleasant feelings sometimes, but they’re still giving you important information that you can use. For example, try: “I’m upset because I keep losing my keys, which makes me late. I should put a dish on the shelf by the door so I remember to leave them in the same place.” Accepting emotions may lead to greater life satisfaction and fewer mental health symptoms. What’s more, people thinking of their emotions as helpful may lead to higher levels of happiness. 5. Keep a mood journal Writing down (or typing up) your feelings and the responses they trigger can help you uncover any disruptive patterns. Sometimes, it’s enough to mentally trace emotions back through your thoughts. Putting feelings onto paper can allow you to reflect on them more deeply. It also helps you recognize when specific circumstances, like trouble at work or family conflict, contribute to harder-to-control emotions. Identifying specific triggers makes it possible to come up with ways to manage them more productively. Journaling provides the most benefit when you do it daily. Keep your journal with you and jot down intense emotions or feelings as they happen. Try to note the triggers and your reaction. If your reaction didn’t help, use your journal to explore more helpful possibilities for the future. 6. Take a deep breath There’s much to be said for the power of a deep breath, whether you’re ridiculously happy or so angry you can’t speak. Slowing down and paying attention to your breath won’t make the emotions go away (and remember, that’s not the goal). Still, deep breathing exercises can help you ground yourself and take a step back from the first intense flash of emotion and any extreme reaction you want to avoid. The next time you feel emotions starting to take control: Breathe in slowly. Deep breaths come from the diaphragm, not the chest. It may help to visualize your breath rising from deep in your belly. Deep breaths come from the diaphragm, not the chest. It may help to visualize your breath rising from deep in your belly. Hold it. Hold your breath for a count of three, then let it out slowly. Hold your breath for a count of three, then let it out slowly. Consider a mantra. Some people find it helpful to repeat a mantra, like “I am calm” or “I am relaxed.” 7. Know when to express yourself There’s a time and place for everything, including intense emotions. Sobbing uncontrollably is a pretty common response to losing a loved one, for example. Screaming into your pillow, even punching it, might help you relieve some anger and tension after being dumped. Other situations, however, call for some restraint. No matter how frustrated you are, screaming at your boss over an unfair disciplinary action won’t help. Being mindful of your surroundings and the situation can help you learn when it’s OK to let feelings out and when you might want to sit with them for the moment. 8. Give yourself some space Getting some distance from intense feelings can help you make sure you’re reacting to them in reasonable ways, according to Botnick. This distance might be physical, like leaving an upsetting situation, for example. But you can also create some mental distance by distracting yourself. While you don’t want to block or avoid feelings entirely, it’s not harmful to distract yourself until you’re in a better place to deal with them. Just make sure you do come back to them. Healthy distractions are only temporary. Try: taking a walk

Is it okay to drink cinnamon tea every night?
Is it okay to drink cinnamon tea every night?

Potential Risks of Cinnamon Tea Cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin. Eating too much can cause liver damage, cancer, low blood sugar, or...

Read More »
What assets make people rich?
What assets make people rich?

Households in the very top wealth deciles (the top 20%) have financial assets that go beyond retirement accounts and real estate in their primary...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

watching a funny video

talking to a loved one

spending a few minutes with your pet

9. Try meditation If you practice meditation already, it might be one of your go-to methods for coping with extreme feelings. Meditation can help you increase your awareness of all feelings and experiences. When you meditate, you’re teaching yourself to sit with those feelings, to notice them without judging yourself or attempting to change them or make them go away. As mentioned above, learning to accept all of your emotions can make emotional regulation easier. Meditation helps you increase those acceptance skills. It also offers other benefits, like helping you relax and get better sleep. Our guide to different kinds of meditation can help you get started. 10. Stay on top of stress When you’re under a lot of stress, managing your emotions can become more difficult. Even people who generally can control their emotions well might find it harder in times of high tension and stress. Reducing stress, or finding more helpful ways to manage it, can help your emotions become more manageable. Mindfulness practices like meditation can help with stress, too. They won’t get rid of it, but they can make it easier to live with. Other healthy ways to cope with stress include: getting enough sleep

making time to talk (and laugh) with friends

exercise

spending time in nature

making time for relaxation and hobbies

11. Talk to a therapist If your emotions continue to feel overwhelming, it may be time to seek professional support. Long-term or persistent emotional dysregulation and mood swings are linked to certain mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. Trouble controlling emotions can also relate to trauma, family issues, or other underlying concerns, Botnick explains. A therapist can offer compassionate, judgment-free support as you: explore factors contributing to dysregulated emotions

address severe mood swings

learn how down-regulate intense feelings or up-regulate limited emotional expression

practice challenging and reframing feelings that cause distress Mood swings and intense emotions can provoke negative or unwanted thoughts that eventually trigger feelings of hopelessness or despair. This cycle can eventually lead to unhelpful coping methods like self-harm or even thoughts of suicide. If you begin thinking about suicide or have urges to self-harm, talk to a trusted loved one who can help you get support right away. If you need help now If you’re considering suicide or have thoughts of harming yourself, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 800-662-HELP (4357). The 24/7 hotline will connect you with mental health resources in your area. Trained specialists can also help you find your state’s resources for treatment if you don’t have health insurance.

What smells are good for mental health?
What smells are good for mental health?

What's considered a calming scent will vary from person to person, but Newton recommends the following scents based on their well-documented...

Read More »
What percentage of Americans have a net worth of $1000000?
What percentage of Americans have a net worth of $1000000?

8.8 % of U.S. adults are millionaires. 33% of U.S. millionaires are women. Having $1 million puts you in the top 10% of wealth in the U.S. There...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
How do I pray to get lucky?
How do I pray to get lucky?

A Prayer for Better Luck I have squandered the good gifts You have given me and I want to do better. Lord, send better luck my way so that I have...

Read More »
What color calms your mind?
What color calms your mind?

Green – Quiet and restful, green is a soothing color that can invite harmony and diffuse anxiety. Blue – A highly peaceful color, blue can be...

Read More »