Whether you tell yourself that you feel “too much” or “too little,” your emotional reactions leave you with a painful thought “something is wrong with me.”
May be you…
Dealing with your heavy feelings takes up so much of your energy that at the end of the day you feel drained and burned out, not having any motivation to do things that give your life meaning. You might try to protect yourself from these emotions by procrastinating, doom scrolling, or using alcohol and drugs, which sets you back professionally while creating more regret and self-loathing. Or you might seek refuge from your painful feelings in your work and achievements, neglecting self-care, sacrificing your health and relationships in the process.
You don’t set healthy boundaries because you are afraid of someone’s reaction or the feeling of guilt that comes with saying ‘no,’ so your relationships don’t feel as satisfying or safe as you wish they did.
You notice these patterns and you are ready to break them.
The ability to effectively regulate emotions and underlying nervous system responses is a true super power! It builds your self-confidence, helps you go after what you want without being paralyzed with fear and self-doubt, and enables you to ask for what you need in relationships. When you accept your emotions and master emotion regulation, you will feel more in control and empowered because you are not going to need other people to make you feel better.
I will help you understand your emotional responses and make sense of them which will allow you to develop self-compassion, acceptance, and cut down on negative self-talk.
You will learn powerful strategies to calm your nervous system and strengthen your capacity to work through painful emotions without having to run away from them.
You will increase awareness of the messages from both your mind and your body to effectively navigate difficult social situations and cultivate supportive relationships. If some of your difficulties with emotions are rooted in past painful experiences, we will take the time to process these situations that keep you stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is emotion regulation?
Emotion regulation is the ability to manage and control your emotional responses in different situations. It involves being aware of your emotions, understanding them, and using strategies to either increase or decrease their intensity, depending on the situation.
For example, emotion regulation helps you avoid acting impulsively when upset, share your frustration without aggression, and return to feeling calm after something stressful happens.
Effective emotion regulation helps improve mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.
Q: What is the best therapy for emotion regulation?
The best therapy for emotional regulation depends on your specific needs and underlying causes, but several therapies have proven effective:
The right therapy depends on the person’s emotional needs, past experiences, and specific issues with emotion regulation. Together we can find the best approach for you.
Q: What causes emotion regulation issues?
Several factors can impact your ability to regulate emotions, including trauma, chronic stress, mental health issues, substance use, genetics, and brain health.
Difficult experiences when you are young, for instance abuse or neglect, can make it hard to handle emotions later in life. Long-term stress from things like school, work, or relationships can make it tough for your brain to control emotional responses. Problems like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder can make emotion regulation much more challenging.
Emotion regulation is a skill so if your caregivers were not able to teach you healthy ways to deal with emotions, you may feel overwhelmed easily and lack the tools to effectively deal with painful feelings. The good news is, it’s never too late to learn this valuable skill!