Emotions, also known as feelings, are your state of mind in response to the environment around you. They can affect not just ourselves, but our family, co workers, friends and even people we don’t know.
Your environment includes the people you’re with, the location you’re at, what you’re doing, and many other factors. Your mind processes these various factors and determines how to respond in terms of emotions that often lead to actions.
This response is based on previous experiences and survival instincts. For instance, going to the park may trigger feelings of happiness and excitement because your mind recognises the park as a place where you’ve previously had fun with friends and family.
On the other hand, standing in line at the supermarket may trigger feelings of boredom as your mind recalls the many instances you’ve been stuck in a line waiting for long amounts of time.
Emotions influence many aspects of your health, especially your mental health. Being aware of your emotions is an important step to a lifetime of healthy living.
What are Different Types of Emotions
Now that you understand the basics behind what causes emotions, what are some of the emotions you experience on a regular basis?
- Happy
- Sad
- Excited
- Angry
- Content
- Nervous
- Hurt
- Lonely
- Embarrassed
- Curious
- Silly
- Kind
- Shy
- Surprised
Ways to Address Emotions
While emotions are a natural response to the world around us, they need to be handled and addressed appropriately in order to maintain good mental health and emotional intelligence. For instance, keeping anger bottled up inside of you can lead to increased frustration that may eventually explode out, leading to a fight or causing you to yell at a friend. Everyone has different ways of addressing emotions that works for them. Some examples include taking five deep breaths, going for a walk, or squeezing a stress ball. You can even talk to someone about the way you’re feeling or ask for someone’s help in solving a problem.
Emotions are an important part of life. Understanding the science behind them and how to control them is an important step towards good mental health.