hummingwolf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hummingwolf) wrote2002-01-29 08:47 am
hummingwolf) wrote2002-01-29 08:47 am
Entry tags:
Emotions Good.
I was feeling rather introspective last week and, as a result of my Deep Thoughts, felt profound sadness.
This is a good thing.
So many people around me have expressed the opinion that negative emotions should be eliminated at all costs that I feel compelled to say it: Emotions are there for a reason, folks. All emotions. Whether you think you emote because of evolutionary development or the hand of God, something or someone gave you those feelings because they help you survive.
Sure, many people have chemical imbalances which produce inappropriate emotional responses. The extreme imbalances should not go untreated. But not every strong, unpleasant feeling is a sign that your brain needs to be rewired. Unpleasant emotions exist to impel you to change. Anxiety tells you that something in your environment is a threat to your body or your soul (in this society, anxiety usually means you're listening to the wrong messages about yourself). Sadness tells you that something is missing. Anger tells you that there's something worth fighting for. None of these messages is meant to be stifled.
Maybe I'm just biased. After all, if it weren't for intense anger, I wouldn't be here. Without anger, I would not have been compelled to fight to improve my life: I would not have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I would not have done my own research to find effective treatments, I would not have been able to go to the training school, I would not have been able to do any work (much as I complain about only being able to work part-time, part-time is certainly better than no time), and I would not be able to concentrate well enough to write a post as long as this one.
This is a good thing.
So many people around me have expressed the opinion that negative emotions should be eliminated at all costs that I feel compelled to say it: Emotions are there for a reason, folks. All emotions. Whether you think you emote because of evolutionary development or the hand of God, something or someone gave you those feelings because they help you survive.
Sure, many people have chemical imbalances which produce inappropriate emotional responses. The extreme imbalances should not go untreated. But not every strong, unpleasant feeling is a sign that your brain needs to be rewired. Unpleasant emotions exist to impel you to change. Anxiety tells you that something in your environment is a threat to your body or your soul (in this society, anxiety usually means you're listening to the wrong messages about yourself). Sadness tells you that something is missing. Anger tells you that there's something worth fighting for. None of these messages is meant to be stifled.
Maybe I'm just biased. After all, if it weren't for intense anger, I wouldn't be here. Without anger, I would not have been compelled to fight to improve my life: I would not have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I would not have done my own research to find effective treatments, I would not have been able to go to the training school, I would not have been able to do any work (much as I complain about only being able to work part-time, part-time is certainly better than no time), and I would not be able to concentrate well enough to write a post as long as this one.
Re: Great Post!
Thank you.
A cyberfriend got me furious and i yelled at him and called him nasty names.
Well, I wasn't handling my emotions too well this weekend. I got into an incredibly stupid argument over a web page, of all things. But I won't blame the emotions for that--I just forgot to think before reacting.