Written by Jennifer Cox LCPC

 

We all could benefit from better understanding our emotions and how they impact our thoughts and behaviors.  

Emotional thinking helps explain how we react physiologically, psychologically, and behaviorally to our environment.  For example, a fear of dogs may lead to increased heart rate (physiological), cortisol production increases anxiety and fear (psychological), and checking your safety or avoidance (behavioral).  This example helps explain the fight or flight response.  The fight or flight response is the body’s natural, instinctive response to perceived danger.  This response is triggered by stressful situations, puts the body into a heightened state of alertness, and can cause a range of emotions.

 

Emotions:

-Allow us to recognize and respond to a situation, preparing our bodies for fight or flight.  

-Give us a way to express ourselves and communicate with others. 

-Help to show others how we feel without having to explain it in detail.

-Give us insight into how we are feeling and responding to different situations. 

-Are a helpful tool when it comes to interpreting and understanding body language and reading facial expressions. 

-Are driven by values, beliefs, and past experiences because people often ascribe meanings to an event based on how it fits into their worldview.

 

So, why do you respond to certain situations the way you do?  Why take the time to identify and understand your emotions?  It could help you find ways to cope, heal, and manage difficult feelings.  

 

 

Talking with a mental health professional could help with this process.

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