9 Simple Tips to Help You Manage Your Emotions
Emotions can have an important influence on physical health, and it is critical to deal effectively with the feelings that accompany the everyday ups and downs of life.
As a psychiatrist, I have given a lot of thought to how to lead a healthier life by managing your emotions. Here are some of my thoughts, which I expressed in my book, “The Emotional Revolution.”
Here are my 9 Steps to Help You Learn How to Manage Your Emotions:
1. Use your emotions and bodily responses to recognize when you are under stress. A racing pulse, dry mouth, aching stomach, tight muscles, or muscle pain may all indicate that something is amiss in your emotional world.
2. Write down your thoughts and feelings about what is stressing you. Take a daily inventory of your emotions. By writing down what you feel and when you may be able to identify patterns of emotional ups and downs. It is also important to write down the thoughts that go with your feelings.
3. Control whatever aspect of the stress that you can. Life presents many situations every day, and you should not view them in black and white terms- those you can control versus those you cannot. Look for the shades of grey- the elements you can control. When you know what’s going to happen in a situation, your nervous system can gear up to handle it.
4. Don’t make mountains out of molehills. When difficult situations arise, it is important to assess how bad they really are before going into panic mode. If you want to live a low-stress life, don’t get all worked up over trivial matters.
Illustrated by Karen Lauria – www.imagekind.com
5. Redefine the Problem. Your attitude to stress can affect your health more than the stress itself can. If the problem is out of your control, recognize that and redefine the problem to determine which parts you can avoid or handle.
6. Develop behaviors that distract you from stress. Anything you do that distracts you from your stress for a while is good. For example, you could get out in nature and take a walk, work in the garden or perhaps learn to fly fish.
7. Reach out to a friend or a family member. Social relationships are good for your health, and reaching out to someone about your stress can improve your outlook. If you are lacking social networks, you may find it easiest to meet others during a shared activity.
8. Exercise Regularly. Regular exercise is good for your physical and emotional health. Even moderate exercise can help reduce stress.
9. Meditate and Relax. Meditation has a wide variety of health benefits, and stress reduction is one of the big ones.
There is no single way to instantly reduce stress or manage your emotions. By using a variety of tools and methods, you will be able to calm your mind and regain your emotional health.
Thank you for reading these 9 simple tips. If you found this post useful please share it with your colleagues and/or friends.
Wishing you Light and Transcendence,
Norman
If you found this article helpful you might also like, Seven Signs of Depression in a Friend or Loved One.
Additional Information:
- University of Arizona – Manage Your Emotions (Click Here)
- Transcendental Meditation and Stress
Dear Dr. Rosenthal, I am grateful you posted this on taking your emotions serious. It gives me a feeling of relief that I am entitled to respect myself and take care of my emotions – and you made valuable suggestions for this which I will try out myself. Thanks a lot.
Dear Margot,
Thank you for your kind words, positive feedback, and the willingness to explore your emotions. Your sensitivity and awareness in these areas can absolutely increase health and well being while improving relationships.
Warm Regards,
Norman
thanks for article . it help me and my child facing ADHD.
Nice article.
i like your thoughts
I like this advice . thanks for this best motivational tips .it gives me feeling and i entitled to respect my self and i take care my emotiion
Thank you so much it helps me a lot
Thank you Norman
this is good am grateful for your advice its going to help a great deal
Thanks for awareness about emotional feelings ***
Thank you! This is extremely useful.
Thank you , Sir for this informational and strengthning article. It encourages me to use the wealth of resources around including family, friends and caring people like yourself who want to see the world around them better by making a difference in someone else ‘s life. It says tome in so many ways don’t panic stop Pull yourself together and Meditate on being peaceful and gather ways of overcoming stress through knowledge. Use what’s been given to you after you move forward REACH BACK AND HELP SOMEONE ELSE WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE. Blessings
I want to know more about “SUPER MIND”
Thank you!
I HAVE ADHD
Your style is so unique compared to other people I have read stuff from.
Thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just
bookmark this page.