Feelings and Mental Health

Feelings and psychological wellness are closely intertwined.

Sophia began her therapy session extremely raging and throwing tantrums at her husband, Tim. When I asked about the nature of her rage and upset, she reported her husband's infidelity and sexual addiction. The cause was reasonable, of course.

But we decided to work on Sophia's out of control emotions first because it was unhealthy, and causing her inability to function and cope with the stress needed to appropriately move forward with her husband.

Observe clearly the difference between "healthy negative feelings" and "unhealthy negative feelings."  Healthy negative feelings are those of sorrow, regret, sadness, annoyance, or disappointment when you don't get what's important to you. Unhealthy negative feelings, on the other hand, make you feel unduly depressed, panicky, self-pitying, angry, or even violent.

Realize that you are capable of changing your "unhealthy negative feelings" into "healthy negative feelings." In my therapy and counseling sessions, I work with counselees to take their depressed feelings, for example, until they only feel sorry and regretful. I encourage them to take their panicky, self-downing feelings into the session until they only feel concerned and apprehensive.

Don't give up until you actually change your feelings into healthy ones. It's a key to pressing on in your overall recovery.