Dealing with Negative Emotions
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At some point in everyone’s life, we’re faced with tough situations, the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a job. These events can cause feelings of sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment, or anger. It’s normal to have these feelings when things don’t go our way. It’s when we can’t cope with these feelings that help may be needed.
When dealing with emotions, it can be hard to figure out just when help is needed. Fortunately, many people who have trouble coping with their feelings experience the same thought patterns and find themselves in similar situations, such as those outlined in the list below.
Use the following list to figure out if you or someone close to you may require help dealing with negative feelings. Track all the points that apply to you or the person you’re doing the list for.
- Trouble experiencing emotions other than anger, sadness, guilt, worthlessness, or hopelessness.
- Rapid or dramatic shifts in feelings or mood swings.
Trouble concentrating, remembering, or functioning at the same level as before the tough situation (e.g., failing in school, missing an important deadline at work).
Changes in sleep patterns, appetite, or sex drive.
Lack of personal hygiene and cleanliness.
Lack of energy.
Loss of interest in going out with friends or family members.
Loss of interest in favourite events or activities.
Suicidal or homicidal thoughts (i.e., thoughts of killing yourself or others).
If you or someone close to you is:
• Experiencing three or more of these issues, help may be needed.
• Having suicidal or homicidal thoughts, urgent help is required.
The person experiencing the difficulty can talk to their health care provider (HCP) about the kind of support that would work best for their issue. Some of the things an HCP may suggest are meeting with a psychiatrist (i.e., a doctor who specializes in mental health), meeting with a psychologist (i.e., a trained counsellor), or joining a self-help group (i.e., a group that provides support for people going through similar situations). The person can also talk to their union or human resource representative about the different types of help available through the workplace. Another way to find help is to visit www.camh.net/care_treatment/index.html . This website, hosted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, has information about the different mental health services available and how to access them. It’s important to know when to get help and to get help right away if it’s needed. Over time, if our feelings aren’t dealt with, serious mental health issues can develop.
Did you know?
In addition to our mental health, our negative emotions can harm our physical health over time. For example, research has shown that adults who have higher levels of anger have a 31% greater chance of developing coronary heart disease (Davidson & Mostofsty, 2010).
