Human Emotion

The study of human emotion is still a work in progress. Psychologists are still trying to figure out to what degree our emotions affect our daily lives. We all experience varying levels of anger throughout the day. The question is…How much negative emotion is acceptable? Controlling negative emotion is not always easy, and for some of us near impossible. How do I know if I have a borderline personality disorder?

Regulating Emotions

Controlling negative emotion can save us from a lot of mental and physical pain. We don’t want to have our emotions run away with us when we stuck in traffic. If we allow our anger to spill out when someone does something foolish in their car can lead to a violent confrontation. An altercation can
cause physical injury, as well as negative feelings of embarrassment and regret, long after the incident. If the incident was serious enough, it could have a lasting effect on our mental health.

There are times when it is helpful to release emotion, which is best done in a controlled environment. Most of us can do a bit of self-analyzation to determine the severity of our emotional state. How are we reacting after the third or fourth mishap of the morning? Are we letting out the odd swear word or are we punching the wall, or bursting out in tears? In most cases, an individual will know when it is advisable to seek some help from a mental health coach or psychotherapist.

Sometimes we will see that we are reacting differently to others, or someone witnessing our behavior might recommend professional help.

Controlling negative emotion

There are techniques available to us in regulating emotional outbursts. Sometimes a good self-help book can do the trick. Let’s look at some strategies that can help us manage our emotions for the betterment of our wellbeing:

1. Recognize the familiar feeling of rage building up inside.
2. Pause and breathe. You have been down this road before. Allow yourself a moment to pause and take a few deep breaths.
3. You have got to step 3 without an impulsive reaction. Continue breathing and visualize yourself calming down rapidly.
4. Notice the physical signs of stress subside as you shift your attention to your breath. Once your body has escaped fight or flight mode, think how good it feels to be in control of your emotions.
5. Discuss your experience with a trusted friend or your mental health coach. This will give you an opportunity to offload some of the bottled up emotion.

Consistency

Controlling negative emotion consistently is a challenge most of us face. The best way to achieve consistent control is by playing out a scenario before it happens. Imagine yourself losing your brand new cell phone before you had the chance to insure it. Your trigger might be something far less significant like not being able to style your hair the way you like it. Whatever sets you off is important and should be addressed before it happens again.

Some of us struggle with anger and do not always know how to manage it. There is no reason to suffer alone, especially if you suspect having a borderline personality disorder. If you are worried about losing control in the future, then that is reason enough to seek help. Mindfulness is a proven method of regaining self-control. There is no shame in seeking help. The fact that you want to gain control over your emotions is a sure sign of strength.

I hope this short article has been insightful and informative.

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