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There are some myths about emotions that we may not be aware of. For example, many people think that our emotions have very little to do with our overall health. They may believe that keeping your emotions in check equates to a healthy mental state, but this isn’t always the case.
Our emotions play a large role in our health. Such as having positive, negative, or even no emotions can change your mentality and affect your overall life. Learn more about the connection between your feelings, your health, and habits for healthily showing emotions.
Positive Emotions and Your Health
When you feel overall positive in your emotions, you will see this exhibited through your physical and mental health. Practicing a positive outlook shows an increase in a person’s physical health. For example, an optimist has a reduced chance of having high blood pressure, heart disease, and can even have a longer life!
Mentally, positive emotions lead to resilience, a decrease in anxiety, and better coping mechanisms. However, this does not mean positive people will not get stressed or sick. Practicing positive emotions can simply help boost your overall well-being.
Negative Emotions and Your Health
If you find yourself easily angered and irritable, you could be hurting your mental and physical health! Negative feelings can include anger, pessimism, and others that put you in a bad mood. This can lead to stress, damage to your immune system, a shortened lifespan, high blood pressure, heart disease, and digestive disorders.
Your negative emotions can cause you to feel stressed, which leads to these many effects on your physical health. Not only can negativity hurt your physical health, but your mental health too!
You become more open to mental health disorders and concerns when you dwell on the negatives. For example, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insomnia, and chronic stress.
No Emotions and Your Health
What about when you show no emotions? Feeling or showing no emotions could be for a couple of reasons. Most people who feel incapable of showing emotions are usually living with a mental health disorder.
A few examples of mental health disorders associated with apathy and numbness are emotional detachment, schizoid personality disorder, and depression. It is pertinent to see a mental health professional if you feel apathetic or emotionless on regular basis.
Showing Healthy Emotions for the Sake of Mental Health
Mindfulness
It is perfectly healthy to show a full range of emotions. Feeling sad or angry now and again will not ultimately lead to negative physical effects. This is why it is vital to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of bringing awareness to your inner self. By focusing solely on your feelings and emotions, you can practice deciphering them. Don’t try to stop your emotions, but accept them as they are and move forward.
Therapy
Another way to healthier emoting is by going to therapy! A therapist can help you understand the emotions that might not otherwise make sense. Sometimes we need a helping hand and a professional opinion. With assistance from a therapist, you can learn which patterns are leading to unhealthy emotions and how to practice healthier habits.
Journalling
If you feel that you can not name your emotions or understand your feelings, you may benefit from journaling. Keeping a journal is a great way to get your thoughts on paper and clear your head. We often get confused about our emotions because we are overwhelmed with many other things. Journaling allows you to see your thoughts and emotions more clearly.
Find a Support Group or Friend
Lastly, making lasting relationships with those you trust can also help you manage and understand your emotions. There are many support groups available for people with anger issues, depression, trauma, and other mental health concerns. If you are nervous about a group, consider talking to a friend. Talking to someone close to you can help you relax and talk about your feelings.
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