Almost all of us can say that we have felt overwhelming emotions in some way over the past year or so. Anger, sadness, stress, and frustration can sometimes take over and feel unbearable. These feelings sometimes leave us wondering if there is any way we can deal with them. How can we control the negative emotions we feel? Holding them in never helps, but letting them out can sometimes hurt us or others. While it is not easy, we can control and work on managing our emotions if we handle them in a way that works best for us.

What Does It Mean to Be Emotionally Overwhelmed?

The job of our emotions is to get us to see what isn’t working so we can make the necessary changes. Emotions are signals to tell us when it’s time to fix things. If we do not handle the situation triggering our negative emotions, it could impact our mental, emotional, and physical health. Overwhelming emotions, if not controlled, may lead to:

• Trouble at work or school
• Difficulty with managing stress
• Conflicts in friendships & relationships
• Difficulty relating to others
• An urge to use substances to cope
• Physical or emotional outbursts
• Muscle pain
• Sleep problems
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Substance misuse

Being emotionally overwhelmed can include having mood swings, being upset or hurt, or being extremely stressed. Sometimes, it can result from thoughts surrounding a particular person, event, or memory. These negative feelings may result from different triggers, including a traumatic event or a stressful job.

Even though these feelings can take control of someone, there are ways to take charge of your life and feelings again. Handling your emotions can help with essential aspects of your life, like decision-making, self-care, relationships, and day-to-day interactions.

What To Do When Emotions Are Overwhelming

How we interpret a situation or something that hurts us determines how we experience it. Since your emotions always tell you something, listening to them is crucial.

Below are some tools to help you control overwhelming emotions:

1. Understand Your Emotions. When you feel negative emotions, look within yourself to figure out what is causing these feelings.
2. Check-In With Yourself. Regularly ask yourself, “How am I feeling right now?” Checking in with yourself will help you identify what you are feeling.
3. Accept Yourself. Instead of invalidating your emotions or your experience, try to accept all the feelings you are feeling. Once you accept them, you can move on from them healthily.
4. Keep A Mood Journal. Record your emotions on a computer or paper to reflect and understand what you felt at a particular time.
5. Give Yourself Space. It’s okay to give yourself time away from the negative emotions and return to them when ready. Take a break by hanging out with friends or enjoying hobbies.
6. Find An Outlet. Develop a healthy routine to help you stay in touch with your emotions. It helps to exercise, do yoga, meditate, take deep breaths, and maintain a regular sleep schedule.
7. Cut Down On Stress. Try to remove the stress triggers in your life. Change what you can about a situation that may be overwhelming you or causing negative emotions.
8. Communicate Effectively. Communicating assertively and impactfully is essential to get your feelings out.

Common Treatments for Dealing With Emotions

We understand that the tools above may be easier said than done. It will take a lot of work and commitment to control your emotions, but if you can do it successfully, you will be happier and healthier overall. If you feel overwhelmed, you’re encouraged to talk to a doctor or therapist and follow their recommended treatment plan. One-on-one therapy will likely be a large part of the treatment process.

Learn more about dealing with overwhelming emotions that addiction or mental health issues can cause by calling us today.

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