Why is it important to manage negative emotions? Suggest ways to manage negative emotions.

It is very important to manage negative emotions. The state of depression affects an individual’s ability to think rationally, feel realistically, and work effectively. The condition overwhelms the mood state of the individual. Because of its enduring nature, the individual who suffers from depression develops a variety of symptoms like difficulty in falling asleep, increased level of psychomotor agitation or retardation, decreased ability to think or concentrate, and loss of interest in personal or social activities, etc.

Under demanding and stressful conditions, a lot of negative emotions like fear, anxiety, disgust, etc. develop in an individual to a considerable extent. Such negative emotions, if allowed to prevail for a long time, are like to affect adversely the person’s psychological and physical health. This is the reason why most of the stress management programmes emphasise emotion management as an integral part of stress management. The major focus of emotion management techniques is the reduction of negative emotions and enhancing positive emotions.

Ways to manage negative emotions:

(i) Enhancing self-awareness: One should be aware of one’s emotions and feelings. One should try to gain insight into the ‘how’ and ‘Why’ of his feelings.

(ii) Appraising the situations objectively: It has been proposed that emotions is preceded by evaluation of the event. If the event is experienced as disturbing, one’s sympathetic nervous system is activated and he feels stressed. If he does not experience the events as disturbing, then there is no stress. Hence, it is he who decides whether to feel sad and anxious or happy and relaxed.

(iii) Doing some self-monitoring: This involves constant or periodic evaluation of one’s past accomplishments, emotional and physical states, real and vicarious experiences. A positive appraisal would enhance his faith in himself and lead to enhanced feeling of wellness and contentment.

(iv) Engaging in self-modeling: One should be the ideal for himself. He should repeatedly observe the best parts of his in past performance and use them as an inspiration and motivation to perform better in the future.

(v) Perceptual reorganisation and cognitive restructuring: One should try viewing the events differently and visualise the other side of the coin. One should restructure his thoughts to enhance positive and reassuring feelings and eliminate negative thoughts.

(vi) To creative: One should find and develop an interest or a hobby. He should engage himself in an activity that interests and amuses him.

(vii) Developing and nurturing good relationships: One should choose his/ her, friends carefully. In the company of happy and cheerful friends he/she will feel happy in general.

(viii) Have empathy: One should try understanding other’s feelings too. He/she should make your relationships meaningful and valuable. He/she should seeks as well as provide support mutually.

(ix) Participating in community service: One should help herself/himself by helping others. By doing community service, one will gain important insight about his/her own difficulties.