Emotions - I guess an emotional rollercoaster is part of the healing process, right?

[the10thleper319]

I woke up this morning not feeling the usual morning sadness (even though I want to back to my safe zone, my bed).. But now I am starting to feel bitter. I guess an emotional rollercoaster is part of the healing process, right?

 

[Tinyflame]

I've heard it said emotions are fickle because they change so much. For me it helps to see if I heard or thought of something that affected my emotions, also semi-consciously. Sometimes I can identify what thoughts precede it but other times Idk what, or it's a trigger, or I am exhausted or unwell. Some times I can brush it off, or neutralize it; other times I know it will snowball if I let it or am too tired to think clearly enough to remember any alternate thought or evidence that might counter it, or expose cognitive distortions. Distraction can help build a pause sometimes, or sleep, or expressing it, or ideally feedback.

 

[the10thleper319]

I've heard it said emotions are fickle because they change so much. For me it helps to see if I heard or thought of something that affected my emotions, also semi-consciously. Sometimes I can identify what thoughts precede it but other times Idk what, or it's a trigger, or I am exhausted or unwell. Some times I can brush it off, or neutralize it; other times I know it will snowball if I let it or am too tired to think clearly enough to remember any alternate thought or evidence that might counter it, or expose cognitive distortions. Distraction can help build a pause sometimes, or sleep, or expressing it, or ideally feedback.

I feel and experience a lot of what you're going through, Thank you for your helpful insight.

 

[arfie]

I guess an emotional rollercoaster is part of the healing process, right?

it is in my case. the longer i have repressed emotions, the more intense and prolonged the rollercoaster ride. emotions which i have repressed since early childhood seem to need more than one ride on the coaster. it feels as though my inner child needs the constantly repeated assurance that yes, child, somebody cares, with all the intensity you craved way back when.

the good news in my case is that once i quit treating my emotions like a nationally declared enemy, the ride got much, much easier. i have even started to see the blessings within that terrifying ride.

 

[Rose White]

Nice analogy @arfie ! Very much relate to needing more than one ride for the oldest repressed shit emotions.

 

[Tinyflame]

One other thing I wanted to say also @the10thleper319 but I didn't have the energy to write earlier was that I first heard of the concept of an emotional flashback from Pete Walker, which if I remember correctly was like sort of feeling particularly awful, sad or ashamed or (x) out of the blue with no seeming cause, but there is one. Impact is there even if we do not notice or acknowledge it. Especially never thinking of it in those terms or as a possibility or reality. In a similar way I think it requires some mindfulness to notice even how we feel, or how a moment or an overheard comment or whatever affects us.

I also remember maybe 35 years ago saying to my mom I wonder if I have depression- except that I notice it can be 'solved' by what I read or hear. Which didn't seem to me as physiological if it could be altered by my thoughts. Same could be said (for me) for anxiety but I believe that is physiological at least partly in my case. It doesn't budge so easily, or rather only with a very few things and I already had an ulcer before I knew how to tie my shoes (seriously).

 

[the10thleper319]

it is in my case. the longer i have repressed emotions, the more intense and prolonged the rollercoaster ride. emotions which i have repressed since early childhood seem to need more than one ride on the coaster. it feels as though my inner child needs the constantly repeated assurance that yes, child, somebody cares, with all the intensity you craved way back when.

the good news in my case is that once i quit treating my emotions like a nationally declared enemy, the ride got much, much easier. i have even started to see the blessings within that terrifying ride.

I am sorry for what you--for what everyone--has gone through, I accept the rollercoaster as part of the healing process. I've heard it said to do something and let your emotions follow. I have trouble with this, having the emotions come in second to the activity. Thanks again.

 

[Tinyflame]

I guess it might come from having to live and 'do' without them @the10thleper319 . Kind of a luxury or too scary to have to face and especially function. Kind of a natural fallout of processing I would think though. You actually 'are' processing it.

 

[the10thleper319]

One other thing I wanted to say also @the10thleper319 but I didn't have the energy to write earlier was that I first heard of the concept of an emotional flashback from Pete Walker, which if I remember correctly was like sort of feeling particularly awful, sad or ashamed or (x) out of the blue with no seeming cause, but there is one. Impact is there even if we do not notice or acknowledge it. Especially never thinking of it in those terms or as a possibility or reality. In a similar way I think it requires some mindfulness to notice even how we feel, or how a moment or an overheard comment or whatever affects us.

I also remember maybe 35 years ago saying to my mom I wonder if I have depression- except that I notice it is 'solved' but what I read or hear. Which didn't seem to me as physiological if it could be altered by my thoughts. Same could be said (for me) for anxiety but I believe that is physiological at least partly in my case. It doesn't budge so easily, or rather only with a very few things.

I find it frustrating not knowing the cause, more so for the anxiety than the depression. I end up in my safe zone, my bed, after doing just about anything. It could be an inside activity like preparing lunch or an outside one like going to the supermarket. "I can't wait to get back into bed" is my thought in all these situations. If I can't unearth the cause ok; then let's remedy it. Remedy of the problem is the goal. This will be next week's topic with my trauma therapist. Thanks for your help,

 

[arfie]

I've heard it said to do something and let your emotions follow. I have trouble with this, having the emotions come in second to the activity.

i believe emotions are the best monitoring system ever designed. they can clue us into things the intellect can't perceive. alas, monitoring systems are pretty dumb. kinda like a smoke alarm that will go off just as fast for burnt toast as it will for a house fire. a comfortable acknowledgement of my emotions lets my intellect be more objective in evaluating the information my emotions report.

now to get my psych symptoms healed far enough to provide the dynamic duo (emotions and intellect) nature designed them to be. works in progress.

 

[Rose White]

now to get my psych symptoms healed far enough to provide the dynamic duo (emotions and intellect) nature designed them to be

The dream! So many distractions though

 

[Friday]

Being aware of the roller coaster… to the extent of taking steps to dismantle it, & until then diminish the effects on my life, I would say is part of the healing process.

But just because the rollercoater is there? Doesn’t mean I’m doing anything about it. Or that I’m not doing anything about it.

One of those double edged things, with cyclical & reactive disorders.

Dysreg is a symptom. Symptoms are gonna show up, sometimes.