Smalling what is happening in itself is often an unconscious automation, from our past experiences or well -established social norms. From childhood, we are instilled that certain emotions, such as anger, sadness or fear, are inappropriate. Then, later, in the professional environment, show what you can feel perceived as a weakness. To be accepted or not to disturb, we then learn not to let anything appear. If this reflex may seem protective in the short term, it ends up keeping us away from ourselves and our deep needs.
Transform your emotions into forces
Dissociation is a psychic protection mechanism which consists in detaching, in a more or less conscious manner, of certain thoughts, emotions, memories or sensations, often in response to intense stress or trauma. If this strategy can be temporarily useful, it can become problematic when it settles in everyday life. Indeed, as Sabrina Romanoff points out, our emotions bring us precious indications on our inner state and our needs. Rather than perceiving them as a burden, it proposes to consider them as gifts. Sadness, for example, helps us to let go and mourn what is no longer, fear invites us to remain vigilant, while anger alerts us that our limits have been crossed, and pushes us to reaffirm them. Live fully, these reactions then become allies to better interact with the world around us.
Identify your emotions to tame them
According to psychologist Sabrina Romanoff, it is essential to learn to identify the moments when we try to repress our emotions in order to get out of this repetitive scheme. Several techniques can make it possible to achieve it:
- Conscious breathing To appease the autonomous nervous system and bring attention to the body;
- The body scan to feel the tensions linked to repressed emotions;
- Mindfulness which aims to observe their emotions without wanting to change them. Concretely, it is a question of naming the emotion that presents itself, to locate it in your body and to breathe with it;
- Anchoring techniqueswhich allow you to remain present when emotions make you want to flee;
- Emotional free writingwhich consists in writing everything that goes through our heads without stopping. This gives a voice to repressed emotions.