Mightier Than You Think
I want you to take the time to really think about your mental health. Describe your mental health in 3 words. Are you able to simplify how you are feeling in 3 words? If you were, that is amazing and you are one step closer to narrowing down the underlying issue. If you were not able to, you don’t have to. Emotions are a part of human nature. As we become more skilled in understanding emotions, we can identify what we feel and put it into words. With time and practice, we get better at knowing what we are feeling and why. This skill is called emotional awareness.
“Emotional awareness helps us know what we need and want (or don't want!). It helps us build better relationships. That's because being aware of our emotions can help us talk about feelings more clearly, avoid or resolve conflicts better, and move past difficult feelings more easily” (kidshealth.org).
You shouldn’t feel forced to simplify your emotions because sometimes they are indescribable. If you are feeling an array of emotions and don’t know what to do, this blog will give you some ideas and techniques to help you. The goal of this blog is to educate and connect individuals with resources and others that are dealing with a mental illness (i.e. self, your spouse/partner, parents, children, etc.).
Emotions 101
Here are a few basic things about emotions:
Emotions come and go. Most of us feel many different emotions throughout the day. Some last just a few seconds, while others might linger a while and become a mood.
Emotions can be mild, intense, or anywhere in between. The intensity of an emotion can depend on the situation as well as the person.
There are no good or bad emotions, but there are good and bad ways of expressing (or acting on) emotions. Learning how to express emotions in acceptable ways is a separate skill — managing emotions — that is built on a foundation of being able to understand emotions.
Building Emotional Awareness
Emotional awareness helps us know and accept ourselves. So how can you become more aware of your emotions? Start with these three simple steps:
Make a habit of tuning in to how you feel in different situations throughout the day. You might notice that you feel excited after making plans to go somewhere with a friend. Or that you feel nervous before an exam. Simply notice whatever emotion you feel, then name that emotion in your mind. It only takes a second to do this, but it's great practice. Notice that when each emotion passes, it makes room for the next experience.
Rate how strong the feeling is. After you notice and name an emotion, take it a step further: Rate how strongly you feel the emotion on a scale of 1–10, with 1 being the mildest feeling and 10 the most intense.
Share your feelings with the people closest to you. This is the best way to practice putting emotions into words. Make it a daily practice to share feelings with someone. You could share something that's quite personal or something that's simply an everyday emotion.
Just like anything else in life, when it comes to emotions, practice makes perfect! Remind yourself there are no good or bad emotions. Don't judge your feelings — just keep noticing and naming them.
We are here to listen. We are here to educate. We are here to connect and support. We are judgement FREE!!!
(NAMI) National Alliance on Mental Illness Help Line
1-800-950-6264 or info@nami.org
Emergence Health Network Crisis Hotline- 24/7
915-779-1800
Toll free Crisis Hotline
1-877-562-6467
Crisis Text Line
Text 741741, free 24/7
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255(TALK)
Español: 1-888-628-9454