4 steps to managing hard feelings
Do you ever feel like your emotions are so big, so painful, or so hard to manage that it just feels intolerable?
Whether it’s anxiety, frustration, anger, sadness, it doesn’t matter… at some point we all get hit with those difficult feelings. And while our emotions are an important (and inevitable) part of life, here are some tips to help make those hard feelings feel just a little more manageable:
Stop and notice your emotion. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in our feelings that we get totally sucked into them. Taking a step back and focusing on noticing the emotion without any judgment can help make the feeling so overwhelming.
Take some deep breaths! It sounds simple…and it is! Doing some deep breathing can help calm our nervous systems, which helps our whole body and mind calm down. For a guide how to do deep breathing, check out our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3zrADsQDZg&t=9s
Create a list of helpful reminders that you can use when big emotions strike. Find mantras you like when you’re not in distress that can help you when you need them. Some of my favorite reminders are “no emotion is permanent” and “I have survived every hard day I’ve ever had”.
Talk it out! Find a trusted friend, loved one, or therapist you can go to when your emotions get hard. It's amazing how just saying our feelings out loud can help.
We are all going to have hard times and hard emotions.
You don’t have to go through them alone!
If you are interested in learning more skills about dealing with emotions, contact us at Metanoia Therapy! Whether it’s a group or individual therapy, we can help support you and your feelings!
