Feeling angry or nervous isn’t bad; it’s how you react to a situation.
Just as feeling peaceful, cozy, and happy are natural emotions, stressed, shy, or frustrated feelings also arise from our life experiences.
“We cannot simply pick the emotions we want to have. It just does not work that way,” said Dr. Jaime Zuckerman, a licensed clinical psychologist and trained cognitive behaviour therapist.
“An abnormal emotional response to an abnormal situation is normal.”
Trying to hide or suppress your feelings can take a toll on your mental health in the long term.
So, here are three reminders from Dr. Zuckerman:
Feelings Aren’t Permanent: You won’t feel good all the time, but the emotions that cause pain and discomfort will also pass.It’s Okay to Not Feel ‘Okay’: It is essential to acknowledge your feelings.Allow people to feel and express their emotions. To help someone struggling, you can start a meaningful conversation that validates their feelings without judgement.If you know someone going through a tough time, you can take the first step by asking, “R U Ok?”
Learn more about how you can support others or find help here: www.ruok.org.au