Positive vs. Negative Emotions

Emotions (aka feelings) are a normal and important part of our lives.

Some emotions are positive. Think of happiness, joy, interest, curiosity, excitement, gratitude, love, and contentment. If you're like most people, you seek out these emotions. And, like most people, you are probably wary of negative emotions: Feelings like sadness, anger, loneliness, jealousy, self-criticism, fear, or rejection can be difficult, even painful at times.

Just as positive emotions can create a sense of well being, negative emotions can be stressful. That's especially true when we feel a negative emotion too often, too strongly, or we dwell on it too long.

Negative emotions are impossible to avoid, though. Everyone feels them from time to time. They may be difficult, but they don't have to be stressful.

Here are three steps that can help you manage or prevent the stress that may come with negative emotions.

Step 1: Identify the Emotion

Learning to notice and identify your feelings takes practice. In addition to focusing on your feelings, check in with your body, too. You may feel body sensations with certain emotions — perhaps your face gets hot, for example, or your muscles tense.

• Be aware of how you feel. When you have a negative emotion, such as anger, try to name what you're feeling.
  For example:
  That guy Ian in my study group makes me so mad!
  I get so jealous when I see that girl/guy with my ex.
  I feel afraid whenever I have to walk past those bullies.
• Don't hide how you feel from yourself. You might not want to broadcast your feelings to other people (like your ex, for example, or that guy in your study group who is making you mad). But don't suppress your feelings entirely. Simply naming the feeling is a lot better than pretending not to have it — or exploding without thinking.
• Know why you feel the way you do. Figure out what happened that got you feeling the way you do.
  For example:
  Whenever we do group projects, Ian finds a way to take all the credit for other people's work.
  Our teacher thinks he's the star of the team, even though he never has his own ideas.
  When I see my ex flirting with other people, it reminds me that I still have feelings for him/her.
  Even though the bullies don't pick on me, I see what they do to other people and it worries me.
• Don't blame. Being able to recognize and explain your emotions isn't the same as blaming someone or something for the way you feel. Your ex probably isn't seeing someone new as a way to get back at you, and the guy who takes credit for your work might not even realize what he is doing. How you feel when these things happen comes from inside you. Your feelings are there for a reason — to help you make sense of what's going on.
• Accept all your emotions as natural and understandable. Don't judge yourself for the emotions you feel. It's normal to feel them. Acknowledging how you feel can help you move on, so don't be hard on yourself.

Step 2: Take Action

Once you've processed what you're feeling, you can decide if you need to express your emotion. Sometimes it's enough to just realize how you feel, but other times you'll want to do something to feel better.

• Think about the best way to express your emotion. Is this a time when you need to gently confront someone else? Talk over what you're feeling with a friend? Get out your frustrations by yelling into your pillow so only you hear? Or do you work off the feeling by going for a run?
  For example:
  It won't solve anything to show my anger to Ian — it may even make him feel more superior! But my feelings tell me that I need to avoid getting in another situation where he takes control over a project.
  I'll hold my head high around my ex, then I'll put on some sad songs and have a good cry in my room to help me release my feelings and eventually let go.
  My fear of being around those bullies is a sign that they have gone too far. Perhaps I should talk about what's going on with a school counselor.
• Learn how to change your mood. At a certain point, you'll want to shift from a negative mood into a positive one. Otherwise your thinking may get stuck on how bad things are, and that can drag you down into feeling worse. Try doing things that make you happy, even if you don't feel like it at the time. For example, you might not be in the mood to go out after a breakup, but going to the mall or watching a funny movie with friends can lift you out of that negative space.
• Build positive emotions. Positive feelings create a sense of happiness and well being. Make it a habit to notice and focus on what's good in your life — even the little things, like the praise your dad gave you for fixing his bookshelves or how great the salad you made for lunch tastes. Noticing the good things even when you're feeling bad can help you shift the emotional balance from negative to positive.
• Seek support. Talk about how you're feeling with a parent, trusted adult, or a friend. They can help you explore your emotions and give you a fresh way of thinking about things. And nothing helps you feel more understood and cared for than the support of someone who loves you for who you are.
• Exercise. Physical activity helps the brain produce natural chemicals that promote a positive mood. Exercise also can release stress buildup and help you from staying stuck on negative feelings.

Step 3: Get Help With Difficult Emotions

Sometimes, no matter what you do, you can't shake a tough emotion. If you find yourself stuck in feelings of sadness or worry for more than a couple of weeks, or if you feel so upset that you think you might hurt yourself or other people, you may need extra help.

Talk to a school counselor, parent, trusted adult, or therapist. Counselors and therapists are trained to teach people how to break out of negative emotions. They can provide lots of tips and ideas that will help you feel better.

Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD
Date reviewed: February 2011