Try this ---   An Emotional Growth Challenge

The following comes from Mental Health Matters Newsletter, Gratiot Medical Center, written by Marsha Phillips MA LPC September 2007 

The emotional impact of traumatic events can have devastating and long-lasting effects on the mental and emotional well-being of those involved or affected in some way by those events. When someone is exposed to traumatic events, such as a natural disaster, mass violence, or terrorism, it is important to monitor how the exposure to these events can affect him/her personally. Most people will show some signs of stress or distress. This is a normal response and as life gets back to a more normal routine, the signs of stress wil usually decrease over time.

Ways to cope:

- talk about your experience and your feelings with people you trust

- take care of yourself physically; eatcorrectly, sleep adequately, exercise fully.

- be around other people and do not isolate yourself

- volunteer or get involved in commujnit activities to redirect your focus

- do thing you enjoy such as movies, gardening, dancing etc.

- remember to journal. Write about significant experiences in yourlife to express your feelings.  

- try to limit exposure to television, internet or newspapers which dwell on the event.

- if interested or capable, get involved in the disaster relief recovery program

- accept help from others, as needed

It is important to return to a normal routine at a pace which is reasonable for the individual, however, if symptoms do not seem to be subsiding or if they are vecoming more severe, it is recommended that contact is made with a mental health professional to talk about feelings regarding the traumatic event.

So your challenge is to allow your self to recover. Follow the above steps as needed to recover from a trauma.

Do you sometimes feel too "emotional"?

You are an emotional being. You are human. Many people are very aware that they are emotional, sometimes they’re called “too emotional.” You need to balance this with the rest of your humaness.

But we all know those people who seem to have no feelings. They rarely smile or laugh. They don’t cry or get hurt it seems. This does not mean they have no emotions. They may not be overly expressive. Or they may not be aware of feelings.

Like all human characteristics the expression and awareness of feeling is on a spectrum with people all along the spectrum. Some are very expressive and some are not. Some are very aware and some are not.

But by nature of being human we do have feelings. The problem often comes when people are at either end of the spectrum; too expressive or aware – or “too emotional” – or very unexpressive or unaware – “unemotional.” 

Being able to manage the emotions better is an opportunity to grow. There are appropriate situations and times to be expressive or unexpressive. But the problem comes when a person gets stuck at either end, when they don’t have flexibility in their emotional expression, and cannot manage them appropriate to the situation.

Growing in this area can mean so many different things depending on where you are and what you need. Here I present one idea you may want to include in your program on wellnes.

I will be presenting new ideas regularly either my own or one I pick up here or there. Check back for new ideas often.

You can get more ideas from many self help books, my book on the Resources and Services Page . 

If you want help setting up a wellness plan from a psychologist, I can be your consultant and helper in your self help journey. Visit the Resource and Services Page for this help. 

Visit the Quiz page for online quizzes to understand yourself better.

 Photo by Ian Britton 15(c) FreeFoto.com.bmp

Visit each page for great ideas

Physical Growth Page  

Spiritual Growth Page 

Emotional Growth Page

Social Growth Page

Intellectual Growth Page 

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