Correct management of emotions pillar of mental health

Emotions are a very important aspect of psychology, as they determine behavior and can even produce physiological reactions. Proper emotional management has the benefits of a more developed emotional intelligence and good mental health, full of tranquility and peace..

Psychology is one of the most fascinating fields of science and knowledge, as it allows us to know and analyze what happens in the depths of the human mind. It is a tool that, used in the right way, can be of great help to eliminate those chains that bind us, to finally achieve the long-awaited peace of mind.

There are several topics that are analyzed in psychology, such as behavior, cognitive processes, attention and much more. One of the most interesting and useful is the emotions section.

And it is that emotions practically control how we face daily life. Depending on whether we are happy, sad, angry or excited, we will act differently. For this reason, it is very important to know how to manage them, as they allow you to make smarter decisions and put aside those toxic or negative feelings, in an effective way..

Also, knowing your inner feelings, and why they are there, helps develop emotional intelligence. This is very useful to have greater self-control, have healthier interpersonal relationships and great empathy. It is even a great help to express emotions in a much healthier way..

Managing emotions correctly has many benefits, both for oneself and for those closest to you, it is the key to eliminating stress and anger, finding peace and tranquility, in a simpler way..

Influences behavior

Academically speaking, emotions can be defined as a psychological state that is formed by three aspects: a subjective experience, a physiological response, and an expressive response. This is as defined by psychologists Hockenbury & Hockenbury (2007).

The first stage (the subjective experience) consists of experiencing the emotion in the beginning, either due to an internal or external stimulus. Then comes the physiological response, which could be, for example, a pain in the chest due to anxiety, or "butterflies in the stomach", for love.

The nervous system controls the body's involuntary responses, including emotional ones. This is managed by the so-called sympathetic nervous system..

After the physiological response comes the behavioral or expressive response, which is the same emotional expression. This is where you can truly see the emotion you feel, and the way it is expressed will depend a lot on the management and emotional intelligence of each person..

Some behavioral responses are identical in virtually everyone, such as a smile to indicate happiness or a dejected face to express sadness.

Emotional management techniques

Managing emotions can be tricky in certain cases, after all, they control our physiology and behavior. However, there are certain tips you can follow to take control of your feelings.

Although it is impossible to repress them, these techniques allow us to prevent them from consuming us completely. To prevent emotions from dominating behavior, the following can be applied:

• Distraction: A smart way to block out a very strong negative emotion is to simply try to forget it before it gains in intensity, diverting your attention to other, more banal thoughts. For example, instead of thinking about problems at work, you can remember that you are having a party in a few days..
• Expression: it is not healthy to bury the emotions. It is best to express them in a healthy way, and a very effective way to do it is by writing a journal. The same science supports the benefits of this activity.
• Meditation: Using meditation and breathing exercises can help reduce emotions such as anxiety. This is due to its relaxing properties, which allow you to expel negativity and attract more positivity..
• Motivation: It consists of reaffirming yourself about the virtues you have, and thinking about how much you have achieved. For example, instead of being upset because you have been late for work, it is better to think that since you have the habit of arriving on time, a single day late will not be something very serious..