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How to Manage Your Feelings: An Overview of Emotional Reaction (Part 1)

Have you ever experienced an intense surge of feeling that you were unable to fully comprehend? It’s possible that your body was trying to tell you something significant via those sensations. Emotions possess immense potential to impact our behaviors and bodily responses in unanticipated ways.

But what’s really going on below our feelings? We will discuss the many categories of emotions, the relationship between our bodily responses and our emotions, and the emotions that may be lurking under the surface in this post.

Different Emotion Types

Different Emotion Types

The six primary [1*] emotions are often mentioned when discussing emotions in psychology:

  1. Fury. It is sometimes regarded as the most “negative” emotion and may be brought on by a variety of factors, such as feeling helpless or that something is unfair. Seeing the warning signals of rage is crucial because it may quickly spiral out of control.
  2. sorrow. It is the feeling that goes along with mental illness, like sadness, sorrow, and other types of suffering. Though it is a common aspect of the human experience, it is sometimes seen as a sign of weakness. Sadness is a sign that you are processing unpleasant emotions and should be accepted and worked through; it does not indicate weakness.
  3. disgusting. It is a feeling that is often used to express disgust or repulsiveness. A number of factors might cause it, including disagreeable tastes or odors, seeing something disagreeable or immoral, or even just the atmosphere of a certain location or circumstance.
  4. Joy. It is one of the most desired feelings and often entails feelings of serenity, satisfaction, and happiness. Being able to appreciate the good feelings that life has to offer and identify the telltale indicators of happiness are vital.
  5. Unexpected. It may be brought on by unexpected news or happenings and is often an exhilarating feeling. When the news is negative, it might evoke a fearful feeling, or it can evoke a joyful surprise.
  6. Fear. It is a strong feeling that may arise from actual or imagined danger. It is a significant feeling because it might spur us on to action so that we can defend ourselves.

Though there are many more feelings, including love, pride, humiliation, envy, and jealousy, these are the ones that are most often felt. Different things or circumstances may elicit each of these emotions, and they can all result in various bodily responses.

Physical Responses to Various Feelings

Even when we attempt to disguise our genuine emotions, our body may reveal them. For instance, when we experience dread, our muscles tighten up in anticipation of a fight-or-flight reaction, and our heart rate goes up. Anger causes our blood pressure to rise and our respiration to quicken. Weakness, shallow breathing, and a heavy heart are symptoms of sadness and bereavement. Additionally, you could feel as if your body is straining to hold in the feelings. Our bodies still go through physical changes, including more energy, increased relaxation, and a sensation of lightness, even when we are happy or joyful.

What Feelings Underlie Our Reactions

Everybody responds differently to various life circumstances. It makes sense that various triggers might elicit different emotional reactions from us. Since every one of us is different, so are our responses. However, why do we respond differently to various circumstances?

Here are a few potential explanations:

  • sentimental condition. We are much more likely to respond to a situation differently when we are feeling nervous, pressured, or sad than when we are feeling comfortable, joyful, or at ease. Our emotional state may significantly affect how we interpret information, respond to stimuli, and behave in various contexts.
  • convictions and principles. For example, we are inclined to respond strongly to something if we have strong ideas about it. We could become upset or disappointed if it contradicts our morals. Conversely, if it is consistent with our views, we are probably going to be more tolerant and understanding.
  • recognizable trends. If we’ve been taught that it’s improper to get furious, we could attempt to control our feelings and respond in a less intense manner. On the other side, we could be more adept at emotional management if we had been taught that it is OK to express rage.

In certain circumstances, our emotions might also be hidden underneath our outward manifestations. For instance, a person may seem calm on the outside but be experiencing fear or anxiety on the inside if they are feeling overpowered by the circumstances. In a similar vein, someone may seem hostile on the outside yet be hurting or depressed within. We may choose to keep our feelings under wraps in order to keep ourselves safe or to prevent things from becoming worse.

In summary

Because our bodily responses are influenced by a variety of factors, including our emotional state, prior experiences, beliefs, values, and present emotional state, we respond differently to various circumstances. Comprehending these variables may aid us in tracking our responses more effectively and improve our ability to control our emotions.

Continue reading Part 2 to get some excellent advice on how to control your emotions like an expert. Learn effective techniques for controlling your emotions so you can face life’s obstacles head-on and maintain control over your emotions.