Your emotions are messengers

Some gently knock, whilst others bang loudly on our doors, if only we would listen. Our disconnection from our inner emotional world is not a personal failing; it often stems from not having been taught about emotions or from growing up in environments where there was little space for emotional expression. This can cause us to push them aside, dismiss or be reactive, rather than responsive. We may have been raised with messages that framed certain emotions such as anger or sadness - as unacceptable, while emotions like happiness or excitement were viewed as more acceptable or 'safe' to express. 

Emotions don’t just appear out of nowhere, they’re shaped by how our brain processes what's going on around us and what we've experienced in the past. 

Our Understanding Your Emotions module run by MSWA Counsellors will look at some of the misconceptions about emotions that influence how we deal with them. We will look at the most recent science on emotions and use this knowledge to help you understand what you’re experiencing and give you the language to label your feelings. This module is based on the work of neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barret and her research into how our brains create emotions, and how this knowledge can help us to get in the driver’s seat with our emotions. 

We will also look at the hidden cost of not making space for our emotions and operating from the space of autopilot. From the research of psychotherapists such as Dr. Gabor Mate, we will also touch on the downsides of pleasing others, suppressing emotions and how they can contribute to greater unwellness. Lastly, we will explore how words can be used to identify your emotions to try and expand your emotional vocabulary so that you are able to name what you are feeling with greater clarity.