How to gain control of your Emotions

Samuel Akpan December 25, 2022

0 193 13 minutes read

How to gain control of your Emotions: Over the past few months, have you experienced tension, sadness, or disappointment? Pause. While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with any emotion, certain of them have the potential to cause enormous amounts of distress if they are not controlled. Fortunately, you can employ a variety of mental health strategies and alter your lifestyle to manage and get rid of these unpleasant emotions. Enough Info

How to gain control of your Emotions

Remember that all emotions are meant to be felt before you start suppressing them and wishing they would go away. Feelings help you express your demands and receive feedback on your existing circumstances.

So how can you respond to your emotions rather than simply reacting to them? Working memory, inhibition, and task switching are the three branches of this system that are now understood. Being able to use these three processes to manage your emotions is the essence of emotional regulation.

Have you ever noticed that when you’re feeling emotional, you tend to forget things, say things you don’t mean, or have trouble completing tasks? That is the outward sign of weak emotional control. Your executive functions, therefore, require some attention. Fortunately for us, emotional regulation is a skill that can be strengthened through a few evidence-based methods.

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Your mind and body can be Refocused

Keep an eye out for times when you feel your emotions escaping you

Recognizing when your emotions are out of control is the first step towards regaining control of them. Work to recognize it in the present by asking yourself how this makes you feel both physically and cognitively. It takes mindfulness and deliberate, thoughtful thought to stop your emotions when they start to spiral. You will begin to become more grounded in the present moment just by recognizing it.
Physical responses could include a quicker heart rate, tensed muscles, and shallow or rapid breathing.

You may begin to lose mental clarity, experience anxiety, and panic, or overwhelm, or believe that you have no control over your thoughts. How to be A Nurse(Steps and Requirements)
Take it slowly and concentrate on one aspect of your body’s response at a time. For instance, if you suddenly have anxiety, pay attention to how it makes you feel in your body. My palms are perspiring. Instead of passing judgment on these emotions, acknowledge and accept them as they are.

Inhale deeply to relax.

Your breathing will frequently become uncontrollable when your emotions run wild, adding to your tension and anxiety. When you sense this spiral beginning, stop it by taking several deep breaths to relax your body and mind. The best way is to use a deliberate deep breathing technique if you can.

Put one hand on your chest and the other just below your ribs to begin using this method. For a count of four, inhale through your nostrils slowly and deeply. As you fill your lungs with air, feel your abdomen and chest expand. How to tell You Have Diabetes
After one or two seconds of holding your breath, gently exhale through your mouth. Plan to take 6–10 full breaths every minute.
If you find it challenging to complete a full 4-count, you might begin with a 2-count and progress with practice. Just make an effort to breathe evenly and deeply as you can.

To release tension both physically and mentally, relax your muscles

See where you are keeping your stress by scanning your body, and then make an effort to relax in that place. Uncurl your fingers, unwind your shoulders, and intense your legs. Shake out your fingers and roll your neck. Physically releasing stress can greatly aid in calming your thoughts.

Try a technique like progressive muscle relaxation, or PMR, if you’re having difficulties relaxing your body. Starting at your toes and moving higher, you will methodically contract and release your muscles in groups. When you are unable to concentrate on identifying particular points of tension, resorting to a standard approach like this can be helpful.

Imagine being in a serene setting

Choose a peaceful, comforting location, whether it be actual or imaginary. With your eyes closed, visualize it in as much detail as you can while taking slow, even breaths. Let go of any physical tension, and allow the peace of your safe spot to quiet your thoughts and feelings.

Any location where you feel secure and at ease can be your safe place, including the beach, a spa, a temple, or your bedroom. Consider the sights and noises you will encounter as well as the tastes and textures. How to Get Rid of Body Odor(2023)
Try to quickly imagine your safe location if you can’t close your eyes or see it clearly. Take a couple of quiet, deep breaths while reminding yourself of that peaceful, balanced state.

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To center your thoughts, pay attention to your body’s sensations

When you lose control of your emotions, you frequently also lose your sense of self and location because you become engrossed in them and stop being aware of your surroundings. Make a conscious effort to pay attention to your immediate surroundings or any physical feelings you are having in order to counter this.

Exercises that help you ground yourself in the present moment make use of most or all of your five senses. Speaking out loud is particularly crucial since it diverts your attention from your feelings. You may assist yourself ground and halting your emotional spiral by getting back into your body and concentrating on the here and now.
Make a cup of hot tea and concentrate on how it feels to sip it right now. The cup feels what? Does it smell at all? Does it taste good? Explain it to yourself out loud.

Addressing your emotions

Find out what your true emotions are

When you feel like your emotions are out of control, learning to recognize and label them can help you regain control. Take a few deep breaths, then make an effort to gaze directly at your feelings, even if they hurt. Then, consider what is causing that emotion and whether it is masking something else you are frightened to face.

For instance, consider what about taking a significant exam that is causing you such concern. It can have a significant impact on your future, or you might feel pressure to perform well in order to please your family. Your anxiety may be caused by a worry that your family’s support depends on your success.
Never forget that no emotion is improper. You might injure yourself even more by telling yourself not to feel something. Instead, pay attention to the emotion without judging it. Recognize that the emotion is normal and allow yourself to experience it. How to Get Rid Of Acne
Imagine a character who represents the emotion you are experiencing. then determine what first triggered the emotion.
You gain control over your emotional upheaval by recognizing and naming the real feelings that are causing it. Since you can now recognize the emotion for what it is, you are aware that it is only a feeling and has no real power over you.

Consider your options for resolving the issue

Because you can’t always see how to influence the world around you, you could occasionally feel emotionally out of control. This can result in “ruminating,” a “broken record” thinking loop when you dwell on the unfavorable idea or feeling in an ineffective, typically vague manner. By concentrating on any details of the circumstance that you can change, you can stop this loop. How to get rid of Sore Throat Quickly

Make a list of things you can address rather than dwelling on issues at work or asking yourself, “Why am I so poor at my job?” You might discuss ways to be more productive with your manager, seek advice from someone with more knowledge, or start experimenting with various stress-reduction methods.
Try to come to terms with the things that your own efforts can’t change. To relieve tension and mental anguish, let go of the notion that you must “control” or “fix” every aspect of a problem.

Permitting yourself to process the emotion is important

You cannot make your feelings go away by repressing or ignoring them. Allowing oneself to experience your feelings is crucial since they will later bubble up and reappear. But you don’t have to dwell on them. Set aside a period of time, perhaps 15 to 30 minutes, to express your emotions.

For instance, you could rant to a friend over the phone or in a notebook.
You might need some time alone to cry if you’re upset.
You might need to engage in physical activity to get rid of emotion if you physically feel it, such as when you’re stressed, angry, or envious. You might practice yoga or take a quick stroll.

Recognize when you or someone else is becoming defensive

Defensiveness not only causes out-of-control emotions, but it also gives the impression that you are overly emotional to others. If you experience stress, frustration, or feeling personally assaulted, you could become defensive. However, it’s crucial to listen to other people’s viewpoints without judging them, especially if they’re offered in a constructive manner. Defensiveness can be overcome by minimizing the danger present and maintaining an interest in other people’s perspectives. Defensive behaviors include the following:

Refusing to take constructive criticism to heart

Making justifications for failing

Passing judgment How to Stay Fit at Home

Sarcasm is criticism of others used to shift attention away from criticism of oneself

To get the other person to stop talking, smile and nod.

Crossing your arms to block out onlookers

Citing arguments for your position without consulting anyone else

Disregarding advice from others

Prevent your emotional triggers by taking action

Your triggers are the events, people, places, things, or activities that regularly cause you to experience a certain emotion. Once you are aware of your triggers, you can make plans and psychologically become ready for them.

Let’s imagine, for example, that every time you see your sister, you get irritated. Plan how you will take breaks from your sister throughout the day before the next family gathering by calming yourself before you leave. You might arrange to go somewhere with a different relative, or you might decide to depart and pick up some food. Limit the amount of time you spend with her and, if necessary, make plans to depart early.

Transform negative ideas into constructive ones

It takes time and effort to improve your outlook, but doing so can make you more resilient to distressing or unsettling feelings and events. Write down 1 or 2 happy things that occurred each day, even if they were as simple as a catchy song you heard on the radio or a good laugh.

Replace rigid assertions with flexible ones by repetition. For instance, if you are anxious about an exam, you might believe that studying is pointless since you would fail.

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Having Healthy Emotional Reactions

Remove yourself from an environment that makes you feel bad

The best response is occasionally to turn away and completely avoid your triggers. Do what you can to remove yourself from the issue and your unpleasant sentiments if it can be resolved relatively quickly and without hurting other people. How to Become a Professional Footballer (9 Simple Steps)

For instance, you can become upset when you attend meetings if you are a member of a committee at work that has unfocused individuals. Asking to be reassigned to a different committee is one way to handle this annoyance.

If you’re irritated or enraged, calm down

You might clench your teeth and become stiff when you’re furious. It’s simple and effective to tame strong emotions, which can keep you from doing anything you would later regret. Take a few deep breaths and relax your muscles.

If someone is trying to annoy you, do nothing.

Take a deep breath and maintain your composure if you feel like someone is pestering you only to make you feel bad. Keep your cool and don’t allow them to get to you. When you keep your composure, the individual who is encouraging you will soon lose patience and cease.

Tell them how you’re feeling in a calm manner before speaking to them when you’re ready to do so. Something along the lines of “I get angry when I feel like you’re simply trying to get a rise out of me” would be appropriate.

Try going against your usual course of action

Stop yourself if you see that you are responding to powerful emotions in a way that is typical of you. Consider for a moment what might occur if you attempted the polar opposite of your typical response. How might the result differ? Instead of using your previous strategy, try the new one if it would be beneficial or fruitful.

For instance, you could find it annoying if your partner consistently forgets to clean the dishes. Challenge yourself to do the dishes by yourself first, then sweetly ask your spouse if they can help to avoid causing a fight.

Exercising

Exercise frequently to decompress and release tension

Exercise can assist to settle your mind and your senses, especially slow, repeated exercise like swimming, walking, or jogging. You can also try yoga or pilates, which emphasize mind-stilling through calming, stretching, and breathing activities. How to deal with bad news

Put meditation to use

The benefits of meditation include reduced anxiety and sadness as well as improved stress management. You can better control your emotions by engaging in regular mindfulness meditation. You can learn how to perform mindfulness meditation on your own, in a class, or with the help of an online guided meditation.

In a calm, comfortable setting, sit up straight. Take cleansing, deep breaths, and concentrate on just one aspect of breathing, such as the sound or the expansion of your lungs as you take in air.
Include the rest of your body in your focus. Take note of your other senses’ impressions. Never pass judgment or put too much emphasis on any one sensation.
Saying to yourself, “I am having the notion that my nose itches,” will help you accept each thought and sensation as it arises and acknowledge them all without bias. If you notice that your focus is slipping, come back to your breathing.

Try using gentle self-touch

Humans need loving touch to flourish. Oxytocin, a potent hormone that elevates mood, reduces stress, and strengthens bonds with others, is released when a positive touch occurs. Following are some methods for calming down during an emotional period:

Your heart with your hand. Feel the warmth of your skin, the pounding of your heart, and the ups and downs of your chest. Say encouraging things to yourself, like “I am good” or “I am deserving of love.”
Embracing yourself. Put your hands on your upper arms and cross your arms over your chest while tightly constricting yourself. Say something uplifting out loud, like “I adore myself.”

Use mantras that are affirming of your own abilities

Accepting the present-moment experience without resistance or judgment is the central tenet of mindfulness. Although it may seem more difficult than it actually is, you’ll find that as you practice mindfulness techniques, your brain will start to acquire these new “habits.” Repeat encouraging words to yourself when you’re facing a challenging scenario, such as;

I’m not obligated to follow my feelings.
This emotion won’t last forever, and it will pass.
Even if it’s uncomfortable right now, I’m okay.
Emotions come and go, and I have previously managed to get through them.
My sentiments and thoughts are not facts.

Talking to a therapist

If your feelings are still too much for you to handle, it might be time to get some professional help.

A number of mental health illnesses, including bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, are associated with long-term or persistent emotional dysregulation and mood swings. According to Botnick, having trouble controlling your emotions might also be related to trauma, familial problems, or other underlying difficulties.

A therapist can provide you with sympathetic, nonjudgmental support as you:

Investigate the causes of poorly controlled emotions
Deal with extreme mood swings
Practice questioning and rephrasing distressing feelings.

Swings in mood and strong emotions might bring on undesirable or negative ideas, which can eventually bring on feelings of helplessness or despair. This loop may eventually result in unproductive coping mechanisms like self-harm or even suicidal thoughts. Speak to a loved one you can trust if you start to experience suicidal thoughts or urges to harm yourself so they can assist you to receive support immediately away. Economist job description (Responsibilities, Roles)

Even when you make every effort to keep your emotions under control, you may still experience emotional overwhelm. Finding unhelpful emotional reactions and learning new, healthy methods to process your feelings can both be accomplished by working with a qualified mental health expert.

FAQs & Answers

What is emotion?

a deliberate mental response (such as anger or fear) that is felt as a powerful emotion and is frequently accompanied by physical and behavioral changes in the body.

What exactly does it mean to be mentally steady?

The capacity to remain steady and in balance emotionally is referred to as emotional stability. Being emotionally stable is being able to maintain composure under pressure and having few negative emotions on a regular basis. Medical Biller job description Responsibilities/Roles(2023)

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How can I stop being so sensitive to my emotions?

Develop a healthy skepticism of your own thoughts if you wish to quit being so easily hurt. Listen to your thoughts, sure, but don’t be scared to ignore them as well. Thought is sometimes just that—a thought.

Conclusion

Although emotions are shared by all people, how they are felt varies greatly from person to person. We do not experience anger in the same ways, nor do we experience anger in the same ways or display anger in the same ways. Our culture, peer groups, and personal experiences all shape who we are. Life’s natural and pleasant aspects include emotions. They give our world color, support us as we navigate life, and provide us with a window into our own minds.

But what happens when we feel as though our emotions are controlling us rather than the other way around?

Emotional explosions, strained relationships, and poor life choices can all be caused by overwhelming emotions. Anyone can learn to better manage their emotions and channel them in more useful ways, albeit it does take some practice.