Negative emotions: should they be suppressed?

In fact, negative emotions are an importanta component of our life. They arise in case of danger - physical or psychological - and trigger the adaptation mechanism: we correct our behavior so as to eliminate this danger. Negative emotions are divided into such basic types:

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  Anger we react to obstacles that have arisen on the way to achieving the goal; its purpose is to release the energy necessary to destroy the obstacle.
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  Sadness we experience, having lost a significant object for us; its purpose is to reduce the energy level for its further use.
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  Fear helps us to avoid danger or to be mobilized if it is not possible to avoid.
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  Contempt helps support self-esteem.
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  Guilt, on the contrary, signals a possible loss of self-esteem.
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  Disgust serves to repel harmful objects.
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  Shyness makes it clear that we need solitude.

In fact, negative are not emotions, but the situations that cause them. Negative emotions in themselves are not bad, inIn many cases they are quite adequate and even useful. They signal that a particular situation requires special behavior. There is even a category of people for whom negative emotions are attractive.

It is necessary to fight not with negative emotions, but with ineffective and inadequate. What is meant?

Ineffective (impractical) negative emotions do not solve the problemstheir tasks. For example, the task of fear is to help us avoid danger. But if the fear is not really justified (usually it refers to phobias), it only complicates life instead of facilitating it. Such an emotion will be ineffective.

Inadequate emotions - these are emotions that do not correspond to the situation. If ineffective emotions do not correspond to the situation from the psychological point of view, then inadequate - with the social. For example, funeral laughter, perhaps, serves for psychological protection, but from the point of view of others this behavior is inadequate.

Ineffective and inadequate emotions are worth learning to control. Also need control negative emotions that can cause discomfort and even harm to others you close people (for example, outbursts of anger), and negative emotions, harmful to your own health (for example, too strong and long fear, causing a state of stupor).

Controlling emotions It is necessary to contain involuntary emotions insignificant situations. It is socially necessary to keep one's behavior within the norm. Is it harmful to control emotions? There is no unambiguous answer, much depends on the situation and the characteristics of the individual.

Suppression of emotions Is a stronger impact than control. In fact, this is a "war" with strong emotions that can not be controlled. This is a rather harmful thing: the longer and harder you suppress negative emotions, the more likely the "explosion". Thoroughly repressed negative emotions can lead to psychosomatic reactions, causing health problems.

Therefore, you can not suppress negative emotions: they are just as important part of our lives as positive ones. Yes, they are not always pleasant, but we have known since childhood that not all useful things are necessarily pleasant. Necessary learn to control the intensity of emotions, not letting them from constructive ones become destructive.

A small example: excitement before the exam. Pleasant in this emotion is not enough, but sheIt is necessary, because it helps to maintain an adequate self-esteem and to avoid excessive self-confidence. But excessive excitement can serve a disservice: you can not connect two words at the exam, even if you have prepared and know everything. Therefore, excitement must be learned to manage.

Different negative emotions have different management methods, but in most cases you need to learn:

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  determine when the situation arises is worth your attention and emotional reaction, and when - not;
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  Use the accumulated positive experience to cope with your emotions.

Negative emotions - not the most pleasant part of life, but necessary. You do not need to fight negative emotions, you need to learn how to take advantage of them, resorting to control or repression only when it is really necessary.