How to manage your emotions this festive season.

It’s that time of the year again, happy for some, stressful for others. The lead up to Christmas and the New Year can trigger a lot of emotions in people and it can be a tough time to get through. Emotions like disappointment, anger and sadness are sometimes hard to take. Negative feelings (for example stress, anger, fear, sadness, loneliness, tiredness, anxiety) are often quite strong and we need to have strategies in place to bounce back when we experience them.

By design, in life we experience an up and down in our feelings. To balance these ups and downs and become resilient, we need to learn how to manage our emotions.

1. Remind yourself that all feelings are okay. It is okay to be stressed, to cry, to be sad, to be angry or have a bad day. It is all about what we do with these feelings that has the big impact. But before we react, it is important to validate our feelings – they are normal and we all experience them. Don’t beat yourself up over having certain feelings and don’t be afraid to show them.
2. Label your emotions. Recognising and labelling your emotions makes them easier to deal with. When you do that you look at them from a distance which means that you’re less taken over by them.
3. Realise that thoughts affect feelings. When something is causing strong emotions in you try taking it back to the thoughts that lead to the feeling. Were you having realistic thoughts? Challenge your thoughts: can you be sure that they are true?
4. Identify strategies to move from negative feelings to positive ones. Keep in mind that there are also positive feelings like happiness, excitement, joy and optimism. Make a list of things that create these positive feelings in you. This could be anything from exercising, reading a book, having a bath, talking to friend, whatever it is that makes you feel good. When you’re stuck in negative feelings you can use these strategies to get out of it.
5. Slow down the pace or stop. When we get overwhelmed by big emotions it really drains us, we get tired. Take some time out. Have a day at home or a slow weekend to regroup and recharge and really be focused on the day. Try not to think too much about the past or worry about the future.
6. Remind yourself that feelings come and go. Feelings don’t last forever, they come and go as part of your day. Have some quiet time or meditate and just visualise how thoughts and feelings come and go. Let them come in to your consciousness and let them flow away.
7. Be kind to yourself. It is okay to feel emotions and we will all experience them from time to time. The best thing you can do is to be kind to yourself and fill your cup with some self-love. Be gentle and nourish yourself, especially during the tough times.

What if you have difficulty managing on your own?

If you have tried self-help strategies but they don’t seem to be working, or if the emotions and stress are just too much to cope, make sure you find help. Don’t struggle on your own. At Natural Solutions Acupuncture we use acupuncture, and sometimes herbal medicine, to regulate emotions and make you feel better. You will feel much more relaxed and better able to deal with your life situation.

How can I make an appointment?

You can call us on 0414 067 874 or send us an email at marieke@naturalsolutionstcm.com. Alternatively click here to make a booking online.