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Negative emotions are unpleasant and disruptive emotional reactions.
Examples of negative emotions include sadness, fear, anger, or jealousy.
It is important to note that no emotion, including a negative one, is inherently bad.
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It’s perfectly normal to feel these things in certain contexts or situations.
These emotions become problematic when they are persistent and interfere with your ability to live your life normally.
This article discusses the different types of negative emotions and what causes them.
It also explores unhealthy ways of coping as well as some healthier ways of dealing with difficult emotions.
Sometimes they are the result of specific experiences or events.
While these might provide temporary relief, they typically make problems worse in the long run.
Negative emotions signal that what you are doing in your life isn’t working.
So when you ignore them, you might’t make any changes, and you continue to experience negative feelings.
Ruminating on Emotions
Ruminationinvolves dwelling on anger, resentment, and other uncomfortable feelings.
The problem is thatavoidance copingmakes negative emotions worse in the long run.
Feeling angry or frustrated can be a signal that something needs to change.
These strategies can help you cope while also improving your ability to regulate your emotions.
Understand Your Emotions
Look within and pinpoint the situations creating stress and negative emotions in your life.
Looking at the source of the feeling and your reaction can provide valuable information.
Negative emotions can come from a triggering event, such as an overwhelming workload.
Your thoughts surrounding an event also play a role.
Minimizing or eliminating some of your stress triggers may make you feel negative emotions less frequently.
Some ways that you might accomplish this include
Not every source of stress can be changed or eliminated.
Remember that everyone’s needs and abilities are different.
The key is often to try a few other methods to find what works for you and your situation.
Acceptance means acknowledging that we are feeling afraid, angry, sad, or frustrated.
Instead of trying to avoid or suppress these feelings, you allow them to exist without dwelling on them.
When you accept your emotions, you stop trying to minimize or suppress them.
Instead, you acknowledge they exist but recognize that these feelings are temporary and cannot harm you.
Knowing how to manage these responses can help you feel better in the moment and the future.
Negative emotions are normal and even expected.
The goal isn’t to repress these feelings but to find healthier ways of regulating them.
Building these coping skills can lead to greater emotionalresilienceand well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
Negative emotions can contribute to chronic stress.
It has also been linked to conditions including diabetes, hyperthyroidism, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Smiling, whether it is genuine or forced, can have a positive impact on your mood and well-being.
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Anger rumination and reappraisal.J Pers Soc Psychol.
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American Psychological Association.Stress effects on the body.
2020;67(1):14-22. doi:10.1027/1618-3169/a000470
