Are you someone who “stuffs your emotions” so that you can avoid dealing with them? While this is a common thing that people do, it’s certainly not the healthiest. Ignoring your feelings doesn’t make them go away. Instead, they come out in different ways and can cause problems with your physical and mental health.
Knowing that it’s important to listen to your feelings and take action, let’s explore some tips for dealing with negative emotions.
Understand Where the Emotions are Coming From
When negative feelings begin to surface, try to understand what you’re feeling and why. Negative emotions can come from a triggering event, such as an overwhelming workload or a fight with your spouse.
Negative emotions can also come from your thoughts surrounding the event. It’s not so much the event that took place but the way you interpreted what happened. The role of your emotions is to get you to see that there is a problem so that you can take action.
Change What You Can, When You Can
As you realize why you’re experiencing negative emotions, you can start to make changes in your life. This will cut down on your stress triggers. However, you may not be able to change everything right away.
For example, if you’re stressed about your job, you probably can’t walk in and quit. So, you’ll have to find other ways to manage your stress, such as by working less hours or asking for help on a project.
Here are some other ways to cut down on stress triggers:
- Redrawing boundaries
- Practicing assertive communication
- Changing negative thought patterns
- Shifting to a positive mood
- Saying ‘no’ to certain requests
Find an Outlet for Relieving Stress
In addition to making changes in your life, you should also find ways to relieve stress. If you don’t have healthy outlets, you’re more likely to fall into unhealthy practices like substance use, mindlessly scrolling online, excessive social media use and rumination.
Here are some of the most effective ways to relieve stress:
- Yoga
- Regular exercise
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Talk therapy
- Breathing exercises
- Finding opportunities for fun and laughter
Seek Help for Improved Mental Wellness
Sometimes, no matter what you do, you can find yourself in a downward spiral of negativity. If you feel ‘stuck’ in your emotions, it’s important to get help. This ‘help’ may consist of speaking with a counselor, attending a support group or accessing mental health therapy in New Jersey.
CTRLCare Behavioral Health is a premier behavioral health wellness center that treats a wide range of mental health conditions. Using a combination of medication, holistic therapies and behavioral therapy in New Jersey, we help our clients heal from their disorders while teaching them essential coping skills.
To speak with our admissions team, contact CTRLCare Behavioral Health today.
