I can't handle my emotions - why? (part 1)

What would life be without emotion? Emotions help us connect to others, reflect our inner experiences, and give meaning to our lives. However, strong emotions can sometimes feel overwhelming as we navigate life's challenges. If you can relate to this, and feel it is negatively impacting your life - you're not alone!

Are you prone to strong emotions?

Why are some people more prone to strong emotions than others?! Well, the answers could run deep...

1.     Genetics

Research shows that temperament—our innate emotional and behavioural style—varies greatly among individuals. It might come as no surprise that our various sensory processing sensitivities (i.e. how we experience and respond to the environment) impact how we experience life emotionally!

2.   External pressures

Life can be really hard! Factors such as insufficient sleep, poor diet, lack of exercise, hormone changes, unresolved trauma, mental health challenges, or periods of stress and grief can amplify emotional intensity. How kindly we treat ourselves at these times, can further add to our emotional experience.

3.  Lack of Coping Mechanisms

Many of us have never learned strategies to manage difficult emotions, leading to unhelpful habits that make emotional regulation harder. If we don't have the tools, we may be operating in survival mode - it's not always pretty, but it is necessary!

4.     Unexpected Emotions

Even with effective coping tools, strong emotions can sometimes catch us off guard, making it difficult to manage them effectively. Plus, our operating system (the rational brain), can be overwhelmed and under functioning when we are dealing with real-life emotions! It is always easier to cope with life in theory...

It is clear that overwhelm and emotion are highly personalised experiences, and we can't compare ourselves to others. If you can relate to some of these scenarios and would like to work out how to support yourself, please read our Part 2 article "I CAN handle my emotions - how!"

If you feel like you are experiencing big swings in emotion, extreme anger outbursts, or depression, please contact your GP for advice.

With compassion, The Health Coaches

References

1. Cloninger, C.R., Cloninger, K.M., Zwir, I., & Keltikangas-Järvinen, L. (2019). The complex genetics and biology of human temperament: A review of traditional concepts in relation to new molecular findings. Translational Psychiatry, 9(1), 1-21.

2. Greven, C.U., Lionetti, F., Booth, C., et al. (2019). Sensory processing sensitivity in the context of environmental sensitivity: A critical review and development of research agenda. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 98, 287-305.