Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Keep those emotions in check!

The last 3 years have certainly been difficult for so many of us to deal with. From feeling isolated, afraid, and generally overwhelmed, many of us are finding it a struggle to keep up. We are dealing with many emotions even though for most of us life has, more or less, returned to normal. 

New research is tackling the subject of emotional dysregulation, which refers to the inability to keep your emotions in check. Confronting your emotions isn’t easy, but not dealing with them can certainly be detrimental to your mental health. Remember, our bodies and brains aren’t perfect, and this happens to everyone!

So, next time you feel like your emotions are getting the best of you, keep these hints in mind to help process those feelings:

Be aware of how you feel physically. When my emotions are getting high, I often feel flushed. When I notice my body reacting that way, I stop and think. Taking a minute to figure out what is going on can realy go a long way.

Ask yourself if the feeling is justified. Sometimes it is! But often the reaction comes from somewhere else entirely. Perhaps you are feeling anxious or frustrated. If the feeling does not seem justified, try to think of how you would help a friend in the same situation. 

Step away from the situation. Sometimes the best thing you can do is remove yourself from a triggering situation. Then, you can more rationally plan your next step. 

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Exercise some self-care when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed. Take a walk, listen to some music or play with your pet. Show yourself some self-compassion.  

Overall, what we can take from this is that we all have tough emotions and sometimes it’s hard to regulate them! We’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster for the last few years, and that can take a toll on anyone’s mental health. The best way to deal is to realize when and why it happens. Sometimes just admitting that these emotions are real and normal is half the battle. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago