It’s Monday morning, and you have a life-changing interview awaiting. You sense your knees weakening as you enter the building you anticipate as your new workplace. You feel your heart pounding, and you struggle to breathe. You know if you do not get a hold of yourself, you’ll have a full-blown anxiety attack.
You quickly rush to the washroom. You find a quiet spot, you close your eyes, and you breathe in and out slowly. Next, you take note of the negative thoughts rushing through your mind, and you replace them with positive, encouraging ones. You feel your heartbeat slowing down, and your breathing lightens. You walk out of the washroom feeling confident and ready for the interview.
This scenario illustrates someone with emotional self-regulation—-having the ability to process and control their emotions in a healthy way. Emotional self regulation also entails being aware of your feelings, knowing what triggers particular emotional responses, and acquiring skills to respond adequately. Read on to learn how emotional self-regulation develops, its importance, and strategies to self-regulate.
You are not born with the ability to self-regulate your emotions. Acquiring this skill begins developing in infancy and continues into adulthood. In childhood, your primary caregiver helped you manage your emotions by comforting or encouraging you when you were upset.
As you grew up, you started experimenting with what works to regulate your emotions. For example, you would distract yourself with comfort toys. As you developed language, you learned how to express yourself and solve minor challenges.
In later childhood, you interacted with others, and you learned how to manage emotions while with others. You also conform to social and cultural norms to avoid experiencing negative emotions. In your adolescent years, your emotions intensified, but with time, your teenage brain developed further and helped you regulate your emotions by the time you hit your mid-twenties.
Now as an adult, your emotional regulation continues to evolve as you encounter various life experiences that either improve or limit your emotional self-regulation abilities. Factors that affect the normal development of emotional self-regulation at whichever stage include:
If you experienced any of these challenges, it could be the reason you find it hard to regulate your emotions. Seek professional help by registering for emotional regulation therapy in Kenya, Nairobi where you will get the tools to help you process these issues.
Everyone experiences a wide range of emotions. Some are pleasant, and others quite distressing. While these emotions are natural, you need to manage them to improve your mental health and well-being, enjoy better relationships, and experience success. Other benefits of having emotional self-regulation include:
Related: Emotional Codependency: 5 Signs Of Unhealthy Codependency
Emotional self-regulation is a valuable skill that promotes mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The first step to hone this skill is identifying your feelings and understanding what triggers them and the pattern they take. Consequently, you can prepare for the next time you are in the same situation. Other strategies to implement include:
Sometimes, the life issues you are having are too heavy for you to handle on your own. You should consider talking to a professional who can put everything in perspective and guide you through the change process. At Clarity Counseling and Training Centre, we have readily available counselors desiring to help you by providing emotional self-regulation therapy in Kenya, Nairobi. Contact us today and take charge of your emotions.