HANDLING EMOTIONS IN A HEALTHFUL WAY

Positive Ways to Deal with Emotions

• Look below surface of the emotion• Will situation matter as much later

(tomorrow, next week, next year)• Do not take action until head and heart

have investigated what is going on and what s at stake

• Feelings are just feelings• You are not alone• If feeling doesn’t go away seek help

Dealing Healthfully with Emotions

• Ways you express emotions has to do with your personality

• May express feelings indirectly, with a look or a smile or slamming doors

• There are negative ways to deal with emotions that do not solve problem– Exaggerating emotions for effect– Acting them out instead of talking them out

DEFENSE MECHANISMS

• Strategies used to deal with strong or stressful emotions and situations

• Everyone uses them

• Sometimes they occur unconsciously and may be helpful for protecting you from to much pain

Handling fear

• Important to identify fears

• Confide in someone you trust who may give you a fresh perspective

• May be able to help you lesson fear

Managing Anger

• Rechannel anger in positive, productive way

• Get away by yourself• Have a good cry• Call a friend• Write down feelings• Punch a pillow• Count to ten

COMMON DEFENSE MECHANISMS

• Repression – Involuntary, unconscious pushing of unpleasant feelings below the surface and out of conscious thought

SUPRESSION

• Conscious, intentional pushing of unpleasantness from one’s mind

RATIONALIZATION

• Making excuses to try to explain a situation or behavior rather than directly taking responsibility for it

Regression

• Reverting or turning back to behaviors more characteristic of a younger person

DENIAL

• Unconscious, involuntary lack of acknowledgement of something in one’s environment that is obvious to others

COMPENSATION

• Wanting to cover up weaknesses and mistakes by making up for them through gift giving, hard work or other extreme efforts

PROJECTION

• Being unaware of attributing one’s own feelings or faults to another person or group even when these attributes don not apply

IDEALIZATION

• Seeing someone else as perfect or more ideal, or worthy than everyone else

DEALING WITH GUILT

• Must address the underlying source and issue

• The sooner the better

• Guilt feeds on itself causing a snowball effect

QUALITIES THAT CAN FOSTER EMOTIONAL HEALTH

• YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE

• RESILIENCY