Basics
What are emotions?
reactions that human beings experience in response to events or situations
the type of emotion a person experiences is determined by the circumstance that triggers the emotion
Light-headedness and disconnected
Sensations and Feelings
What are some more sensations?
"D" in DOTS
Distraction - any activity done with the intent of distracting you from anxious thoughts and feelings
What do you use as distraction?
Can you control your emotions?
NO!
What can you control?
Prompting event : having an important goal blocked, you or someone you love is attacked or threatened, physical or emotional pain
Anger
What other events make you angry?
What part of the brain controls emotions?
the limbic system (hypothalamus, hippocampus, limbic cortex, and amygdala)
Isolating, avoiding, suppressing
Behavior
What are some more distorted behaviors?
"O" in DOTS acronym
Opting out - people, places, and situations that you avoid, or opt out of to prevent anxious thoughts and feeling from showing up
What do you opt out of?
Who is your favorite therapy guru?
Sue Johnson? Sigmund Freud? Carl Rodgers? Carl Jung? Virginia Satir?
Expressions and Actions : running away, crying, freezing, shaking, frozen stare
Fear
How do you express fear?
What are the three key elements of emotions?
Subjective Experience
Physiological Experience
Behavioral Response
"I'm a loser"; "I can't do this"; "They hate me"
Thought
What are some of your common distorted thoughts?
Thinking - getting stuck in other "time zones" like wishing the past was something different or worrying about the future
What thinking traps do you get caught in?
Are there any BAD emotions?
NO!
THERE ARE NO GOOD AND BAD, BUT THERE ARE COMFORTABLE AND UNCOMFORTABLE, PRODUCTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE!
Biological changes and Experiences : feeling like giggling or laughing, feeling calm all the way through, face flushing, physically energetic and active
Happiness
What biological changes do you experience?
What are some of the purposes of emotions?
They:
help you avoid danger
make decisions
help others understand you better
allows you to understand others
What other purposes do emotions serve?
Scared, anxious, angry
Feelings
What are some feelings you often experience?
"S" in DOTS acronym
Self-Harm - anything that is harmful to your body
What are your emotions and thoughts surrounding self-harm?
Are there any forms that may not seem like self-harm?
What are some skills you can use to regulate your emotions?
Check the facts
Labeling your emotions
Mindfulness
Opposite action
Radical acceptance
Others?
Aftereffects : feeling irritable, touchy, or grouchy, insomnia, ruminating about events in the past, having a negative outlook, blaming of criticizing yourself
Sadness
How do you experience sadness?
What are the five primary emotions?
fear, sadness, disgust, anger, and joy
Differences between thoughts and feelings.
Emotions originate as sensations in the body
Feelings are influenced by our emotions but are generated from our mental thoughts
List 10 helpful coping mechanisms.
Listen to music, playing with a pet, laughing or crying, going out with a friend, grounding, meditating, discussing situations with friends, seeking counseling, art and crafts, etc.
Keep naming more!!!!
Do your emotions fit the facts?
1. I feel shame that I failed a test.
2. I know she hates me because she didn't invite me to the party.
3. I am happy I graduated!
1. NO! Why?
2. NO! Why?
3. Yes!
Other words : culpability, remorse, apologetic, regret, sorry
Guilt
What other words accompany guilt?