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1.1 Why Do I Get Sudden Waves Of Emotion?

1.4 What Are The 3 Types Of Emotional Expression?

Emotional Waves

Emotional waves are fluctuations or changes in a person’s emotional state. These changes can be caused by a variety of factors, such as internal thoughts and feelings, external events and circumstances, or interactions with other people.

Emotional waves can range from mild and subtle to strong and intense, and they can have a significant impact on a person’s mood, behaviour, and overall well-being. Some people may be more prone to emotional waves than others, and managing them can be an important part of maintaining mental health and well-being.

Emotions are a normal, natural part of the human experience. Every day, people experience a wide range of emotions, from the happiest and most euphoric feelings to the deepest anxieties and sorrows.

The intensity of some people’s emotional waves varies within a narrow range. Others may feel as if their emotions are taking them on a wild rollercoaster ride, leaving them holding on for dear life and wishing the ride would end. The temperament we are born with has an impact on how we experience emotions.

The way we think about our emotions, on the other hand, can have a significant impact on our experience and ability to tolerate unpleasant and distressing feelings. We can begin to positively transform our relationship with emotions and increase our ability to sit with distress by having a better understanding of emotions and their roles in our lives.

What are emotions, and why do we experience them?

Emotions are not just “psychological” or “all in your head”. They do have a strong physical component, and for good reason. Emotions are adaptive and protective, and they serve several functions:

They inform us that something significant is taking place that requires our attention.

They guard us and keep us safe.

They direct and guide social behaviour.

When an emotion is triggered to guide behaviour, the physical processes required to engage in that behaviour are also activated.

Take, for example, anxiety. When a person feels anxious, it is a warning sign that they are in danger and should prepare to flee or fight the threat. An anxious person will begin to feel the physical sensations associated with preparing the body for this action (e.g. increasing heart rate and breathing, tension in the muscles, tunnel vision).

In addition to the physical preparation for the action, emotion attempts to persuade you to perform a behaviour in the form of urges. An urge occurs when a person has a strong desire to perform a specific action (e.g. run, fight, argue, laugh, talk, etc)

Emotional waves experiences can be incredibly overwhelming. So much so that they can convince us that they are insurmountable, like a large wave crashing over you while you stand in shallow waters.

This turns out to be an excellent metaphor for emotional peaks. Just as a large wave can overtake and overwhelm one, one can learn the skills required to read the onset of the wave, position themselves effectively with it, and surf the wave, allowing one to experience emotions with mastery and confidence.

Furthermore, because we experience emotions on a daily basis, learning to surf your emotional waves can be practiced on a daily basis.

This begins with viewing your emotions as a wave: powerful, influential, and fleeting… yes, fleeting. Many cognitive patterns that lead to mental health disorders are habits that reinforce single-emotion events over and over until they feel chronic.

The emotional waves typically lasted only a few seconds or minutes at most, and any secondary or lingering feelings are supported by your thoughts, beliefs, and responses. With this understanding, one can effectively experience the emotional waves in the moment before allowing them to return to the ocean, never to return in that exact form again. The steps for “surfing the emotion wave” are as follows:

Take note of the emotion. It is difficult to surf a wave that one cannot fully see. Practice being aware of the onset of emotions. Say it to yourself aloud. (For example, “I am anxious,” “I am depressed,” or “I am afraid”). Allow the feeling to exist and do not resist (wishing it would go away) or fight it (repressing these emotions or turning emotions into anger).

Position yourself. This refers to all of the other positions you can take to ride the wave rather than simply standing in its path until it arrives. These new positions would include that which better equips you for riding these “emotional waves“.

Many coping skills may be used, such as paced breathing, meditation, sensory soothing techniques, visual imagery, or simply lying down until the initial emotional waves have passed. These are some positions (or skills) that you can use to move with the wave rather than resist or deny it, which can make those waves more difficult to ride.

Ride the tide. Once you’ve positioned yourself for the emotional waves, the ride is simply a matter of being patient with yourself. Allow the positioning to do its job, and ride the emotion with no more time or intensity than it would have had on its own.

Look at your ocean. While riding emotional waves will become easier and more common, make time to reflect on your past experiences and allow your strength, resiliency, skillfulness, and commitment to exist and be with you on your next wave, and the one after that, and the one after that, building all the time.

Mastery cannot be attained without the education of errors. Simply try to incorporate those lessons into your next wave without passing judgment.

Emotional Waves (intense emotions) eventually become what they are: naturally occurring parts of our existence that can either overtake us or educate and enrich us, depending on how we learn to respond to them.

Emotional waves surfing, like physical surfing, requires a lot of practice, so be patient with yourself and remember that your feelings are valuable… and no matter how much they roll in, they always return to the ocean.

Why Do I Get Sudden Waves Of Emotion?

Why do I get sudden waves of emotion? It is common for people to experience sudden waves of emotion for a variety of reasons. Some possible reasons for this include being in a highly emotional state, experiencing a triggering event, or simply being in a situation where it is difficult to control one’s emotions.

Additionally, certain medical conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can also cause sudden waves of intense emotion. It is important to try to identify the cause of these emotional surges so that you can address them effectively.

Why do I get sudden waves of emotion? Emotions are a normal, natural part of the human experience. Every day, people experience a wide range of emotions, from the happiest and most euphoric feelings to the deepest anxieties and sorrows.

Why do I get sudden waves of emotion? The temperament we are born with has an impact on how we experience emotions. The way we think about our emotions, on the other hand, can have a significant impact on our experience and ability to tolerate unpleasant and distressing feelings.

We can begin to positively transform our relationship with emotions and increase our ability to sit with distress by having a better understanding of emotions and their roles in our lives.

Humans experience a wide range of emotions. It is normal and healthy to express your emotions when they arise. It is not only important, but also necessary, to express your feelings to others. Suppressing or repressing those emotions can lead to other psychological problems. You are not alone if you are an emotional person; it is a natural part of being human.

Why do I get sudden waves of emotion? Everyone has emotions. Depending on the situation, we react to other people and situations in a variety of ways. Perhaps you discovered that you had lost your job. You might be sad or angry because you used to enjoy your job.

Perhaps you are looking forward to seeing a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. These are understandable and natural emotions. While we all have a different range of emotions, dealing with too many emotions can be a sign that you’re dealing with a more serious problem.

Are you more emotional than you think is normal?

Why do I get sudden waves of emotion? Emotions are a natural part of life. However, some people are more sensitive or emotional than others. A “highly sensitive” personality is a personality type. These people are deeply affected by their surroundings.

If your emotions become “too much” or overwhelming, you may be overly sensitive or emotional, which is perfectly normal. Sensitivity is a virtue. Approximately 20% of the population is extremely sensitive.

If you’re having trouble figuring out how to manage your emotions, traditional therapy or online counselling can be beneficial.

You don’t have to know how to express yourself in therapy. You could be consumed by rage, sadness, guilt, or frustration. This is where a therapist can assist you. Counsellors are experts at teaching people coping skills and emotional regulation.

It is critical to have emotional insight before you can learn to regulate your emotions. Therapists will show you how to look inward, understand your feelings, and learn how to communicate them effectively with others.

When an emotion is triggered to guide behaviour, the physical processes required to engage in that behaviour are also activated.

The fact that emotions have a beginning, middle, and end is one of the most important things to understand. Emotions come in waves, with each wave attempting to create an urge to act on the emotion. First, the emotion and desire become more intense. The urge then gradually fades.

The middle of the wave dubbed the “high distress zone,” is the most critical. The high distress zone is defined as the following:

You will have the strongest desire.

You are more likely to have racing thoughts or difficulty making sense of your thoughts.

Your thoughts are usually extreme and feel completely true.

There may be some loss of time perception, where you believe you have always felt this way and will always feel this way.
You may be terrified of dying, losing control, or going insane.

You may feel disconnected from the present moment and become lost in your thoughts, the past, or the future.

You may experience strong and unpleasant physical sensations.

The primary goal is to get through the emotional waves while “sitting with” and “tolerating” distress. Even if you did nothing, the wave would pass in time. Nothing is eternal. There are, however, ways to expedite the process and reduce the duration and intensity of distress. Distress Tolerance Strategies is a document that contains these strategies.

However, simply understanding the following key points about emotion can help reduce your overall distress.

How Long Do Emotional Waves Last?

How Long Do Emotional Waves Last? Emotions – do they last or do we carry them with us? Do our emotions last longer, or do we intend to feel them for a longer period of time? Is there a distinction between emotions and feelings? Feelings? How can we channel?

Let us look at it from the standpoint of Neuroscience.

What exactly are emotions?

Emotions are the outcome of our experiences. Our thoughts (the starting point) lead to our choices, which lead to our behaviours, which lead to our experiences, which lead to our emotions (endpoint). An emotion is a chemical process that occurs in our bodies (subconscious).

How Long Do Emotional Waves Last? Emotions come and go quickly. Let it be known that an emotion technically and biologically lasts only 90 seconds.

According to a Harvard neuroanatomist:

“When a person reacts to something in the environment, the body goes through a 90-second chemical process; any remaining emotional response is simply the person choosing to stay in that emotional loop.”

Jill Bolte Taylor (Author of “My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey”)

How Long Do Emotional Waves Last? As a result, we intend to experience our emotions for longer than their biological lifespan (i.e. 90 seconds). Are our feelings distinct from our emotions?

So, what exactly are feelings?

How Long Do Emotional Waves Last? Feelings are our interpretations of emotions in conjunction with our thoughts (present) and memories (past); they are the meaning we assign to our emotions.

We begin to feel those emotions after we integrate that emotion with our thoughts, judgments, beliefs, and past experiences, among other things. Feelings have a tendency to last longer.

How Long Do Emotional Waves Last? So, based on the Refractory period of our Emotions, our Feelings are our intended choices through our thoughts; conscious (in our awareness) or subconscious (become automatic).

What exactly is a Refractory Period?

Refractory Period is the amount of time we allow our emotional reactions to last, the amount of time we continue to feel our emotions; it can be measured in days, weeks, months, or years.

How Long Do Emotional Waves Last? Our Emotional reaction becomes our Mood if the Refractory period is measured in hours or days.

If this continues for several weeks or months, it becomes our Temperament.

If this continues for several years, it becomes our Personality Trait.

It’s called ‘Rumination’ in psychology, and it’s the never-ending loop of thoughts that keeps those feelings (that correspond to the emotional reactions of those past experiences) alive in the body.

The longer the refractory period lasts, the harder we work:

To think neurologically within the circuitry of those previous experiences, and to feel chemically within the boundaries of those emotional responses

We become trapped in a vicious cycle of those same emotions influencing our thoughts and the same thoughts returning to the same emotions.

The longer we volunteer to be in that loop, the longer we are on autopilot – what is conveniently known as Automaticity in Psychology. Our choices, decisions, and reactions, for example, become automatic without our conscious or cognitive involvement (mind). In our daily lives, we become Victims.

Why do we keep repeating ourselves?

While the reasons can be varied (genetic, social, environmental, etc. ), we are predisposed to be in our Comfort zone or Survival zone based on whether our emotions are Pleasant or Unpleasant. In either case, we tend to reaffirm those emotional states for a longer period of time; this is due to our own choices (by very definition, by our own thoughts alone).

Emotions are a double-edged sword in that they contribute significantly to positive psychology in humans by influencing intrinsic motivation, long-term memories, our sense of belonging and purpose, and our goals, among other things. If wisely channeled, they can be catalysts for positive change in the human race; if not, they can be self-destructive.

“My epiphany is that peace is only a thought away, and all we have to do to get there is silence the voice of our dominant left mind.” Taylor, Jill Bolte (Neuroanatomist)

How Do You Ride An Emotional Wave?

How do you ride an emotional wave? Distress Tolerance skills are a set of Dialectical behavioural Therapy skills that are strategies to help you get through difficult feelings and situations, as well as tolerate (deal with, sit with, accept) what you can’t change right away.

Emotions can be extreme, leading to ineffective behaviours. You may not be able to change the stressful situation in which you find yourself, but you can change how you feel. Distress Tolerance skills are intended to improve the effectiveness of your response to distress.

How do you ride an emotional wave? When you’re feeling strongly, it can feel like it’s going to last forever. You may resort to extreme measures to stop it, such as using destructive coping mechanisms.

When you get into the habit of doing something, it may appear that nothing else will stop the emotion.

The truth about emotions is that they, by definition, do not last. They come and go like ocean waves. Positive emotions gradually fade into neutrality. Similarly, negative emotions eventually fade back to baseline.

How do you ride an emotional wave? When you try to manipulate emotions, either to keep positive emotions around or to end negative emotions artificially, you invite suffering into your life. The key is to allow each emotion to run its course. To do so, you must believe in two things:

That this will not be the last time you experience this particular positive emotion

That the negative emotion will eventually fade

How do you ride an emotional wave? DBT skills are not always meant to be used independently of one another. They can be combined and used in succession to achieve success. Another skill that will help you use this one is radical acceptance, which will help you put your faith in the above truths. Likewise, there is a skill that teaches how to let go of painful emotions.

How do you ride an emotional wave? Ride the Wave is about navigating emotional swells. Instead of using destructive coping mechanisms to end or hold on to an emotion, you use DBT skills to ride the wave until it passes.

It may feel awkward to use a skill that lacks defined steps or a handy acronym, but for those of you who struggle with destructive habits, this could become one of your most-used tools.

Letting go of an emotion does not imply letting go of the situation. It’s all about managing your emotions so you can be most effective. If you’re in an argument and you’re angry, let go of the anger that’s causing you to react negatively. Return to the situation once the anger has subsided to finish the disagreement more effectively.

When you are overcome with emotion, you do not always have to react. You don’t need that emotion to motivate you. In fact, you’re often more effective when the problem has been reduced to a manageable level or has been eliminated entirely.

Psychiatrists and mental health experts have developed a treatment strategy for depression. However, in addition to therapy or counseling, you should learn how to care for your mental health. These strategies are not only for people who are depressed but for anyone who is sad, including those who are anxious or on the verge of a mental health decline.

You may feel sad for no apparent reason at times due to unpleasant events in your life. But do you have to dwell on your negative emotions? No. Here are some quick tips for improving your mood, becoming more positive, and, most importantly, learning to love yourself.

Take a Short Walk

Go for a quick walk if you want to instantly improve your mood or increase your energy. You can walk around the block with a friend or a loved one. You can even go for a walk outside in beautiful scenery to relieve stress. That is why some people enjoy walking to work or home because it is relaxing.

Walking, when done mindfully, can be a more calming activity. Simply slow down your pace, pay attention to your breathing, and concentrate on each step you take.

It’s normal for your mind to wander at times. Simply return your attention to your steps.

Discuss with a Friend or Family Member

Speaking with a loved one or a family member can assist you in sorting out your emotions. Even if they don’t offer advice, it’s always nice to talk to someone when you’re down.

When you’re depressed, it’s sometimes helpful just to express yourself. When you need it, your friends and family can help. Knowing you’re not alone and that you can talk to someone if you’re feeling down is the best feeling in the world.

Make a list of everything you’re thankful for.

Making a list of your blessings is a powerful tool for putting things into perspective. We can become so overwhelmed by the bad things going on around us that we lose sight of the blessings we have to be thankful for. Making a gratitude list will remind you that you are doing well in your life and that you have many reasons to be happy.

Be grateful for what you have because other people are the blessings you overlook. Be thankful for a roof over your head, the gift of family, good health, and the ability to work. You will always have reasons to be thankful, so don’t take them for granted.

Take Some Time Off

Avoid overworking yourself. Allow yourself some downtime. Sometimes not knowing how to have fun is the source of a person’s sadness. Have a good time with a friend, go on nature walks, relax, get a massage, and pamper yourself.

With commitments, responsibilities, and pressure, life is already stressful. But do you have to lead a stressful existence? You absolutely do not. Allow your hair to down, don’t spend the entire day worrying about your problems, spend time with your loved ones, and have fun.

We only have one life, so learn to lighten up by allowing yourself to relax, recharge, and enjoy whatever brings you joy in life.

Consider the Small Things in Life

You’d be surprised to learn how something as simple as not worrying too much can make a significant difference in your life. You’d be surprised at how little things can make you happy.

The sun, playing with your pet, smelling the fresh air, stargazing, or listening to birds sing can all instantly make you happy. These are all free but have been shown to be effective in combating sadness.

You have more to discover in life, so instead of focusing on the end result, enjoy the journey. Enjoy the small moments in life that lead to bigger and better things. Everything that happens in your life can relieve you of your worries.

Discuss with a Counsellor

If you’re feeling down for no apparent reason, seek help and speak with a counsellor right away. Allow yourself to be troubled by overwhelming emotions; a therapist can assist you in dealing with them. Talk therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy has been shown to alleviate feelings of sadness and depression.

What Are The 3 Types Of Emotional Expression?

What are the 3 types of emotional expression? Emotions are reactions that people have in response to events or situations. The circumstance that causes the emotion determines the type of emotion that person feels. For example, when a person receives good news, they feel joy. When a person is threatened, they experience fear.

Emotions have a significant impact on our daily lives. We make decisions based on how happy, angry, sad, bored, or frustrated we are. We choose activities and hobbies based on how they make us feel. Understanding emotions can help us navigate life more easily and steadily.

To better understand what emotions are, consider their three main components: subjective experience, physiological response, and behavioural response.

Subjective Experience

What are the 3 types of emotional expression? While experts believe that there are several basic universal emotions that people all over the world experience regardless of background or culture, researchers also believe that emotion is highly subjective. Consider the emotion of rage. Isn’t all rage the same? Your own feelings may range from mild irritation to blinding rage.

We don’t always feel pure forms of each emotion. Mixed emotions are common in our lives as a result of various events or situations. When you start a new job, you may feel both excited and nervous. Getting married or having a child can elicit a wide range of emotions, from joy to anxiety. These emotions may occur concurrently, or they may occur sequentially.

Physiological Response

What are the 3 types of emotional expression? If you’ve ever felt your stomach lurch from anxiety or your heart palpate from fear, you know that emotions can cause strong physiological responses.

The sympathetic nervous system, a branch of the autonomic nervous system, regulates many of the physiological responses you experience during an emotion, such as sweaty palms or a racing heartbeat.

The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary bodily functions like blood flow and digestion. The sympathetic nervous system is in charge of regulating the body’s fight-or-flight responses. When confronted with a threat, your body automatically prepares to flee or confront the threat.

What are the 3 types of emotional expression? While early studies of emotion physiology focused on autonomic responses, more recent research has focused on the brain’s role in emotions. Brain scans have revealed that the amygdala, a component of the limbic system, plays an important role in emotion, particularly fear.

The amygdala is a tiny, almond-shaped structure associated with motivational states like hunger and thirst, as well as memory and emotion. Using brain imaging, researchers discovered that when people are shown threatening images, the amygdala becomes activated. Amygdala damage has also been shown to impair the fear response.

Behavioural Response

What are the 3 types of emotional expression? The final component is perhaps the most familiar to you: the actual expression of emotion. We spend a lot of time interpreting the emotional expressions of those around us.

Our ability to understand these expressions accurately is linked to what psychologists call emotional intelligence, and these expressions play a significant role in our overall body language.

According to research, many expressions, such as a smile to indicate happiness or a frown to indicate sadness, are universal.

Sociocultural norms influence how we express and interpret emotions. When an authority figure is present, for example, people in Japan tend to hide their fear or disgust. People in the United States are more likely to express negative emotions both alone and in the company of others, whereas Japanese people are more likely to do so alone.

Examples of Emotions

What are the 3 types of emotional expression? There are numerous theories about how many different types of emotions humans experience. As previously stated, psychologist Paul Ekman identified the following six universal emotions:

Happiness: Many people strive for happiness because it is a pleasant emotion that is accompanied by feelings of well-being and fulfillment. Smiling or speaking in an upbeat tone of voice are common ways to express happiness.
Sadness: We all experience sadness from time to time. Someone may express their sadness by crying, remaining silent, and/or withdrawing from others. Sadness can manifest as grief, hopelessness, or disappointment.
Fear can cause an increase in heart rate, racing thoughts, or a fight-or-flight response. It can be in response to real or perceived threats. Some people enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with fear, such as when they watch scary movies, ride roller coasters or skydive.
Disgust can be caused by a physical experience, such as seeing or smelling rotting food, blood, or poor hygiene. Moral disgust can occur when someone witnesses another person doing something immoral or distasteful to them.
Anger can be expressed through facial expressions such as frowning, yelling, or violent behaviour. Anger can motivate you to make changes in your life, but you must find a healthy outlet for your anger so that it does not harm you or others.
Surprise can be both pleasant and unpleasant. When you are surprised, you may open your mouth or gasp. Like fear, surprise can set off the fight-or-flight response.

Emotional Waves Conclusion

Emotional waves conclusion. Consider yourself at the beach. If a specific location comes to mind, visualize it in great detail. Consider sitting on a towel or in the sand and gazing out at the vast ocean.

Consider the emotional waves as they approach you, crashing or gently lapping at the shore before receding back into the sea of blue. Out and in. Take note of how each in and out wave is distinct, sometimes gentle and slow, other times chaotic and powerful. Isn’t it amazing how each wave is unique, yet the ocean has a soothing rhythm?

Emotional waves conclusion. The image of ocean waves changing and flowing with each cycle can help us understand our emotions better. When we are overcome by emotion, whether it is joy, anger, sadness, embarrassment, disappointment, anxiety, or another, it can feel overwhelming.

More painful emotions can seem to last forever at times. However, we learn through the skill of “Riding the Wave” that emotions only last a few minutes and naturally change with time. If we can allow ourselves to observe the emotional waves without fighting or changing them, they will dissipate as quickly as an ocean wave being dragged back out to sea.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed and powerless in the face of your emotions, try the following practice to mindfully observe your emotional experience:

Bring the emotion to light. Take some time to name the emotion, paying attention to the subtleties in your experience. Is it, for example, anger, frustration, irritation, or even rage? Be gentle with yourself and try not to pass judgment on the emotion.

Connect with the emotion’s thoughts, urges, and bodily sensations. Do you have racing thoughts, a desire to avoid the situation or person, sweaty palms, a racing heart, or an uneasy stomach when you’re anxious? As you become more adept at recognizing the signs and sounds of your emotions, you will be able to respond to them more quickly.

Feel the sensation. Don’t try to stop the emotional waves from coming at you, don’t try to push the emotion away or avoid it, and don’t try to control it. The goal here is to relax and let the waves wash over you.

Remind yourself that this is only a passing feeling. Continue to observe and be curious about your emotion as it changes and begins to fade.