When they get into an emotionally difficult situation they too are liable to “lose it.”įor people like this, being calm, cool, and collected is their defense against emotional reactivity. They’ve tried to “cut off” their emotional side. Sometimes those with an apparent “cool head” are actually just detached from their feelings. Interestingly, people who appear to be very calm or rational can also can be reactive, overly sensitive, moody, and unstable. They treated her with kid gloves to avoid hurting her feelings and exacerbating tension in the home. Consequently, her family walked on egg shells around her for fear of upsetting her or putting her in a bad mod. She especially had difficulties at home where she would often lose her temper at her kids, criticize her husband, or lock herself in her room to cry when she was upset. And yet, she lived in fear of others, like her boss, being harsh or critical of her – so much that her annual performance review brought on an anxiety attack. She’d lose her temper with “lazy” assistants who didn’t measure up to her standards. Sandra had a highly successful career as a saleswoman, although she often switched companies because of her emotional problems. A pattern emerged in each of her jobs. She often overreacted out of emotion and said or did things that she regretted later and that caused her problems. Sandra (not her real name) was struggling with emotional reactivity. To develop self-control they need to learn to think with their gut and feel with their head, to integrate their thinking and feeling dimensions. They say things they regret, have outbursts of tears, lose their temper, and act on their feelings before thinking clearly. Most just get overwhelmed by their emotions. I’ve talked with many people who struggle with emotional reactivity and mood swings.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |