Emotions and Uncertainty - How do you deal?

[ladylore]

Let's face it - there is uncertainty in the world and we all have to deal with emotions, even strong emotions. Our own and from others, whether it be family, friends, co-workers and others.

How do you deal with emotions in general?

How do you deal with your own strong emotions?

Other people emotions? Does it change depending on the relationship? How?
What has worked most successfully for you?

Throw in uncertainty or a sudden unexpected situation - how does that change things?

How do you handle uncertainty and the emotions it tends to bring up?

 

[forgetmenot]

Good topic Robyn. I tend to hide my emotions alot and when something unexpected happens, I step back even more. Totally opposite to when I am working where I am able to stay calm and react clearly. The best way for me to deal with negative emotions is to lay low and hope things work out with time as I do not like confrontation at all

 

[white page]

Hi LL ,
Since I read this thread earlier , I've been thinking it over .it's a sort of stopping you in your tracks subject .
I tried to reply about an hour ago but no words would come.
Emotions I said to myself , do I have any or too many of them ?
Certainly for many years I denied them to myself but was very emotive without realising it . they over whelmed me once I had identified and recognised them .
Now I am more in tune with what I am feeling , I give myself the right to joy elation , sadness , anger, fear and distress . I know that they are protecting me and telling me if I am comfortable with a situation , I listen to them much more than I was capable of before .
Anger I listen too closely now as it is a real red flag that something is truly amiss . however I rarely show anger , but act on the feeling to sort things out if I can.
However I still have a slow reaction to distress , at times not recognising it soon enough and slipping into a feotal position in my mind which paralyses thought and action.
This is a very thought provoking topic , thank you . I'll probably come back after mulling it over some more . wp

 

[Daniel E.]

This sometimes comes to mind:

Predictable = certain = already known in advance = no need to really be here = a non-participatory life

Uncertainty = not knowing in advance = fully engaged in creating the future event = participatory in our life’s creation

Order out of Chaos—Learning to Embrace Uncertainty - Psychlinks

 

[Into The Light]

that is a really good question. i am learning to listen to my emotions and to pay attention to them rather then by default trying to push them away.

the intensity of the feelings determine how i handle them. if a little sad/angry/anxious i am able to let myself feel it, but if it's really strong i struggle with it.

with normal ranges of these emotions i am able to talk to friends and family, or i write about them if they are bothering me enough. if it's sadness i try to give myself a break and relax. if anxious in the normal range and i know it's distorted thinking i apply cbt techniques.

the hardest is coping with really strong, overwhelming feelings. if i feel i can't cope that's when i call my therapist. if i am not able to call for whatever reason (wrong time of day or it's the weekend) then i keep reminding myself that soon i will be able to speak with her, that i only need to hang on a finite amount of time. knowing that she'll help me through helps me hang on until i am able to talk to her. then i basically try to survive from moment to moment.

 

[forgetmenot]

Into The Light, I am glad I came to this forum. You with your ability to share your insight about what you have gone through have helped me understand as well. I too will use my therapist to help me survive and remember it will only be a short time until I see him and have him help me deal with overwhelming emotions too.

Thank you again Mary

 

[white page]

Mental Health Art Therapy | Art Therapy

Hi LL,
this thread still running around in my head .

at times when emotion becomes very intense and undefinable , it is a good idea to exteriorise it by painting or drawing , I found a site which may interest you . I haven't explored it really but there may be some interesting articles in it .
This is something I forget to do myself , I know it can help by allowing us to
use colour and form to channel how we are feeling and help us identify the core of our emotions . writing: painting, drawing all serve to clarify and crystalize our emotions and feelings to ourselves .

A little tip is to play music which reflects your mood and just start a doodle and see where it takes you . a choice of colours is good if possible, a set of felt tips which can be found in every store are great .

 

[arlene]

I can control myself when it come to emotion. I don't want to hurt someone verbally or even physically. I have a very long patience.

 

[ladylore]

Mental Health Art Therapy | Art Therapy

Hi LL,
this thread still running around in my head .

at times when emotion becomes very intense and undefinable , it is a good idea to exteriorise it by painting or drawing , I found a site which may interest you . I haven't explored it really but there may be some interesting articles in it .
This is something I forget to do myself , I know it can help by allowing us to
use colour and form to channel how we are feeling and help us identify the core of our emotions . writing: painting, drawing all serve to clarify and crystalize our emotions and feelings to ourselves .

A little tip is to play music which reflects your mood and just start a doodle and see where it takes you . a choice of colours is good if possible, a set of felt tips which can be found in every store are great .

What is this site that your referring to? You have me curious.

I use art quite a bit myself. I also attempt to find the balance between distraction and dealing with what needs to be dealt with. It is definitely a balancing act that always needs adjustments.

IMO.



Just realized the link is at the top of the page. Thanks WP

 

[white page]

you're most welcome LL

next time I'll put a link in a more visible place ( sorry)

 

[ladylore]

you're most welcome LL

next time I'll put a link in a more visible place ( sorry)

Not you WP - it's me and old age.

 

[forgetmenot]

Right now my emotions are over place anxious, depressed not knowing how to deal with everything. I tried going to bed but agitated tired god. I tried taking a bath. I just wish I could calm down. Maybe I'll try taking my natural medication to help me relax sometimes. That helps just panicking a bit, that all have to tell myself, "calm down nothings wrong calm down"

 

[Mari]

anxious depressed not knowing how to deal with everything

Same here Mary, I am just going to type a few things from this sheet I have by the computer and maybe it will help a bit.

Go gently, try to accomplish just one thing, ask for help, feel what you feel, it is okay to cry, avoid alcohol, be good and kind to yourself. :heart: Mari

 

[forgetmenot]

Thanks Mari. I feel like somethings wrong. I don't know how to deal with anxiety when my daughter is away from me too long. I want her to come home soon. I want to cry but can't something I haven't been able to do. I just need to stop worrying about everything. How do I stop worrying? please god stop this pain.

 

[ladylore]

Mary - I find the more I tell myself to calm down, the worse it can get.

Your feeling anxious, and even though it feels lousy, your still ok. What is something you can do (enjoy doing) to distract yourself for a bit.

Puzzle, bath, music - anything that is safe and works.

 

[forgetmenot]

Thanks just took my 3rd bath tonight. I am still very anxious maybe if I phone my daughter to see how she is i will be alright. She hates me doing that but I need to know I need to hear her voice god this is bad Robyn. I hate being ths way really I do but im afraid

 

[Halo]

I think that if calling your daughter will help you relax, I say do it. If it will decrease your anxiety and let you know that she is alright then it is something that you have to do.

Take care

 

[forgetmenot]

Thanks I'll do that now Mary

---------- Post added later and automatically merged ----------

Not able to get a hold of her she probably turned phone off. I'll just have to wait it out until she gets home. Everything will alright, it will, I am just anxious. I get this way when she is away I've got to calm down just pray she is home soon thanks mary

---------- Post added later and automatically merged ----------

10:45pm my daughters home . I can finally start breathing again, one less thing to be anxious about. I will now try to go to sleep and hopefully tommorrw will be better day thanks Mary

 

[white page]

Art Therapy

the above is beautiful site about Art therapy .

 

[seeking33]

Let's face it - there is uncertainty in the world and we all have to deal with emotions, even strong emotions. Our own and from others, whether it be family, friends, co-workers and others.

How do you deal with emotions in general?
This isn't the most healthy coping strategy, but I tend to suppress them. Sometimes I just "don't even wanna go there", lol! Even if it's a positive emotion where I really like or love someone, I tend to not let the person know. It makes me feel really vulnerable and open to rejection.


How do you deal with your own strong emotions?
Suppression, usually. But often, it can become overwhelming and I stew in it all day. This results in me isolating myself from the world. I'm kind of in that place now.:hide: I guess I ignore my feelings for the benefit of others who are in a worse place emotionally. I am my mother's "rock" for example; the strong, silent one who is never supposed to be seen in tears or distress, always happy and calm.

Other people emotions? Does it change depending on the relationship? How?
It does really depend on the relationship. I have to deal with strong emotions from relatives on a near-daily basis which usually includes some form of anxiety and angry outburst. I cannot stand being around those people when it happens. If they are going off in the same room as me, I totally shut down. Don't wanna deal with it. And they act as if I'm a blank wall and don't listen to me anyway. However, if it's a friend, I have enough emotional distance to be able to help them thru it.

What has worked most successfully for you?
Being able to identify the emotions when I wonder why I'm feeling like crap.

Throw in uncertainty or a sudden unexpected situation - how does that change things?
Change isn't one of those things I'm great at dealing with. Like right now, I'm out of school and looking for work. I've been in school for a long time and have gotten used to certain things. Now that uncertainty is knocking at my door, my nerves are a real mess

How do you handle uncertainty and the emotions it tends to bring up?

I just tend not to think about it. I live by the motto "Don't even go there" and handle each thing as it comes. Just deal with it and get it over with, I guess...