Identifying and releasing negative feelings

Hello @shermananski

This is a great topic. I'm glad that you shared your goal for releasing negative emotions. This is a necessary to step to achieving wholeness and peace. I would like to suggest that you first make a list of your negative emotions. After you list the first negative emotion, leave the rest of the page blank. Periodically go back to the emotion and write down where it might have originated and how the original experience felt (i.e., childhood hurts, etc.). Then take time to grieve that experience and allow yourself to feel it.

I hope others will chime in with their methods of releasing negative emotions as well. I'd like to tag @jimhd, @guener, @georgette12, and @stsopoci, @merpreb, @artscaping, @gingerw, to name just a few who might be able to add to this great discussion.

What do you think about the idea of listing the emotions on a page as I suggested? Is it worth a try?

I recently received an email about mantras that can be used to ease depression. Here is the link,
https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/therese-borchard-sanity-break/10-calming-mantras-that-can-ease-depression/?
I was wondering which of the 10 mantras seemed especially helpful to you?

@hopeful33250 Number 5 for me. It helps me stay focused.
Ginger

I get super confused about emotions. My big challenge in the morning is sluggishness and ... negativity. I’m irritable about my freaking phone cover. It sucks. Ummm I want help cleaning the house. It’s a lot of work. I’m disappointed with myself. There’s one! Self criticism. I think it’s one big knot.

And I’m confused about releasing and ruminating. Is it the recognition and exploring that’s helpful? Because the feelings are like always there and id rather just get rid of them.

@shermananski My housework is staring me in the face today and I don't have the energy to tackle it today , tomorrow is another day but my schedule is full tomorrow no time then so bmad at myself 😴

You are right, @shermananski, self-criticism can drain you physically and emotionally.

What can you say to yourself when the self-criticism starts?

Yes, recognizing them and exploring them is helpful, @shermananski. A journal is great for writing down these thoughts that keep circulating through your brain. Then sharing it with a trusted professional who can help you.

@shermananski , my, I have some considerable background in ruminating myself. When I am depressed it is a go-to habit of mine that ends of with endless self-critique to the point of feeling worthless. When I catch myself doing this I try to realize that I have explored my past and that it's not going to help me in *this* moment to pursue it any further. I set it aside, and if I feel later that it is important will bring it up with my therapist. I release my thoughts that are very negative in the company of somebody I can trust to give me honest and helpful feedback or just to ask them to listen and to acknowledge my feelings as valid.

I may have encountered a major break through. My daughter has a minor in women’s’ and gender studies. I learn sooooooomuch from them. While discussing masculine toxicity it occurred to me that it’s a phenomenon akind to gas lighting. My buried and extremely confusing emotions seem to come to light in this context. I’m bringing them to my next psychiatrist therapy appointment to discuss. It maybe the framework I need as a lot of my pain revolves around relationships with men.