Emotions
last authored: Sept 2011, David LaPierre
last reviewed:
Introduction
Emotions are experiences connected with events or thoughts, affecting how we feel. Emotions can also be called affect, mood, or feelings.
Examples of important emotions include:
Other emotions include:
Feelings can guide, but shouldn't control.
Mood is normally self-regulating and oscillating.
here is a picture of many emotions
Biology of Emotions
According to Dr Ravi Bains, Dalhousie psychiatrist, given emotions have specific neurophysiological pathways that manifest consistently.
For example, rage can begin with a feeling in the stomach that extends to the chest and ends in the hands. Repressed rage, on the other hand, has the opposite manifestations, ie beginning in the hands and spreading to the stomach.
According to Abbass, current situations can trigger old emotions that were laid down in the past.
Emotions are neurobiological events rooted in the unconscious.
- frigntening, unacceptable or painful emotions are blocked by anxiety and defenses
Imapct of Emotions
Emotions can get in the way of higher functions, overwelming cognitive capacity.
When we have a strong mood, our ability to see fully becomes limited.
Somatization
Based on >3000 case studies, in patients with somatization, these emotions almost always include rage, guilt about rage, craving of attachments and grief.
Mixed emotions can be tough to handle; hating the person you love the most (ie a parent) can be very difficult on the psyche.
"You cannot control your emotions, but you can control your behavior"
Emotion-focused dynamic therapy is what Dr Abbass does to reverse somatization
Resources and References
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