Understanding Emotions

Activity

1.Brainstorm a situation that would provoke an emotional response… Write it down.

2.Exchange the situation with another group.

3.Read the new situation with your group and come up with a reasonable way to handle it.

Understanding Emotions

• Emotions are… signals that tell your mind and body how to react.

• Sometimes referred to as feelings, emotions are your responses to certain thoughts and events.

• Learning about your emotions will help you understand the relationship among physical, mental and emotional and social health throughout adulthood.

List of Emotions

Emotion Definition Description

1. Happiness Being satisfied or feeling positive

Energetic, creative, sociable.

2. Sadness Being disappointed or rejected, experiencing a loss

Discouraged, low energy, crying, depressed

3. Love Strong affection, deep concern and respect

Caring, loyalty, connections, honesty

4. Empathy Ability to imagine and understand how someone else feels

Listen attentively, communication, connection to emotions

List cont.

Emotion Definition Description

5. Fear A feeling/ anxiety which can be caused by a presence or a feeling of danger.Phobia- An exaggerated fear

Scary feeling, danger, can be imagined,

6.Guilt Results from acting against one’s values or from failing to act to bring a better outcome

Negative outcomes, blame

7. Anger a reaction to being emotionally or physically hurt.Hostility- the intentional use of unfriendly or offensive behavior

Triggered feeling, hate, fighting

Hormones

• What is a hormone?– A hormone is a chemical secreted by your

glands that regulates the activities of different body cells

• How do hormones affect your emotions?– Hormones may cause mood swings quickly

between extreme emotions such as; elation (joy or being proud) and depression

– Hormones may cause you to have mixed emotions; such as being happy but jealous for a friend.

• http://science.kqed.org/quest/video/emotions-revealed/

Managing Emotions

Managing Emotions

• Objective 1: Identify ways in dealing with emotions in a positive way

• Objective 2: Demonstrate strategies for communicating emotions and needs in healthful ways.

• Objective 3: Identify and describe ways to manage difficult emotions.

Dealing with Emotions

• You have learned various positive and negative ways of expressing your emotions from your;– Environment– Experiences – Others

• Negative ways of dealing with your feelings do nothing to help you solve your problems.

Examples:– Over-exaggerating emotions for effect– Pretending the feelings are not there at all– Intentionally hurting yourself or someone else

Strategies for Responding to Your Emotions

What is causing the emotional reaction? Does the intensity match the situation? Will it matter tomorrow, next week, month or

year? What are the consequences of your reaction? What can you do to reduce the reactions and

feelings? Do something constructive Exercise Speak to someone you trust and value.

Other Ways to Manage Emotions

• Understand what triggers you.• You cannot change how you feel,

but you can change how you react.• Separate yourself from the

situation, if possible.• Take slow deep breaths.• Listen to music that makes you feel

better.• Analyze the cause by writing it

down or talking about it.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxAGjmVSOII

Difficult Emotions

1) Defense Mechanisms- (full list on pg. 190)

– Mental processes that protect individuals from strong or stressful emotions and situations.

– Suppression- Holding back or restraining.

• Can provide temporary escape from an unpleasant situation

• Ex: Using alcohol and drugs to hide your feelings

– Denial- Unconscious lack of acknowledgment of something that is obvious to others

• Ex: Having an eating disorder, lying to yourself and those around you (denying).

– In the long run, defense mechanisms may keep you from facing what is really troubling you. They create temporary escapes and do not resolve the problem.

– Read figure 7.4 on page 190

On your own paper, write in the correct defense mechanism.

1. stating that you were fired because you didn't kiss up the boss, when the real reason was your poor performance2. sitting in a corner and crying after hearing bad news; throwing a temper tantrum when you don't get your way3. forgetting sexual abuse from your childhood due to the trauma and anxiety4. trying to forget something that causes you anxiety

Answers• Rationalization: stating that you were

fired because you didn't kiss up the boss, when the real reason was your poor performance

• Regression: sitting in a corner and crying after hearing bad news; throwing a temper tantrum when you don't get your way

• Repression: forgetting sexual abuse from your childhood due to the trauma and anxiety

• Suppression: trying to forget something that causes you anxiety

Difficult Emotions Continued…

2) Handling Fear– An emotion many people work to overcome

• Identify your fear• Analyze the situation that causes the fear• Talk about your fear with those you trust.

– Some fears are healthy and natural, as long as they are rational

3) Dealing with Guilt– Guilt can be a very destructive emotion– What is causing the feeling?– Learn from your experiences and try not to repeat

them.– Be true to yourself and take responsibility for your

actions.

Difficult Emotions Continued…

4) Managing Anger– Anger can be one of the most difficult emotions. – Get to the underlying source of your anger and

address it– If there is nothing you can do about the source of your

anger, there is always a way to cope with the feelings.

Strategies for managing anger

• Try seeing an upsetting issue from the other persons perspective.

• Learn and find ways to relax• Practice trusting other people• Develop your listening skills• Learn to be assertive (not

passive or aggressive)• Redirect your energy

Video clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRaTpTVTENU

Interactive study guide

• http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0078726549/359990/InterActCh7Ls4.html

Flashcard Activity

• http://www.glencoe.com/qe/efcwin.php?qi=10381

Online Practice Quiz

• http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078726549/student_view0/chapter7/online_quizzes.html