http://talktoyourself.com/2007/07/27/learn-to-manage-emotions/#comment-231 Neil Moffatt Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:16:38 +0000 http://talktoyourself.com/?p=1096#comment-231 The concept of emotional control assumes to an extent that the instigation of an emotion is a conscious choice. I fear not - thanks to our earlier heritage, the emotional response, close to our brain stem, is given first stab at processing incoming sensory information. This is historically as a defence mechanism from times with more obvious and vicious predators. Our conscious mind lags behind most emotional startups. However, of course, as you rightly point out, it can dampen them down, and generally manage them. If, like myself, you have very intense emotional reactions to a myriad of events, and a history of emotional overload, then an emotional response can often dictate. Frequently, I am held ransome to an emotional response, regardless of my reasoning that the response is inappropriate. I generally have to distract myself upwards of 2 days before the emotion will subside - many situations simply do not allow for an immediate response. I would like to have appropriate emotional response to situations, but my subconscious is more in control of my emotions than I appear to be. The concept of emotional control assumes to an extent that the instigation of an emotion is a conscious choice. I fear not - thanks to our earlier heritage, the emotional response, close to our brain stem, is given first stab at processing incoming sensory information. This is historically as a defence mechanism from times with more obvious and vicious predators.
Our conscious mind lags behind most emotional startups. However, of course, as you rightly point out, it can dampen them down, and generally manage them.
If, like myself, you have very intense emotional reactions to a myriad of events, and a history of emotional overload, then an emotional response can often dictate. Frequently, I am held ransome to an emotional response, regardless of my reasoning that the response is inappropriate. I generally have to distract myself upwards of 2 days before the emotion will subside - many situations simply do not allow for an immediate response.
I would like to have appropriate emotional response to situations, but my subconscious is more in control of my emotions than I appear to be.

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