ExpressingEmotions.pdf

© 2006 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved Expressing My Emotions How do you deal with your emotions? Do you: ? Fly off the handle? ? Deal with things calmly and rationally? ? Change the subject? Experts say that being able to express emotions appropriately is an important interpersonal skill to have in order to do well in school and in your life in general. Healthy emotions Having feelings is completely natural?all of us have them. However, sometimes the feelings we have overwhelm us, especially if we have ?bottled them up.? To deal with your emotions in a healthy way: ? Acknowledge your emotions; they are telling you something. ? Identify your emotions. ? Talk to somebody about your feelings. ? If you are having an unpleasant feeling, think of something you can do that will help, and then do it. ? Find positive ways to express anger that are not hurtful to yourself or others (for tips, see ?Managing Anger?). Remember, whatever you are feeling, you are not alone. Try not to get discouraged; things usually improve. If you do get overwhelmed, ask for help by talking to a counselor, friend, parent, etc. Practice identifying and handling your emotions For each of the situations given below, ask the following three questions: 1. Name the emotion (see the list of feeling words at the end of this exercise). 2. What's a helpful way to handle this emotion? 3. What's a harmful way to deal with this emotion? ? I feel ______ when I?m accused of doing something I didn't do. ? I feel ______ when a professor praises my work. ? I feel ______ when someone playing a game with me cheats. 2 ? I feel ______ when I?m expecting to see a friend, and she or he backs out at the last minute. ? I feel ______ when I work really hard for something and I succeed. ? I feel ______ when a friend hasn't understood me. ? I feel ______ after an intellectual discussion in class. ? I feel ______ when someone insults my friends. ? I feel ______ when I?m getting ready to go on a trip. After getting some practice with identifying and handling emotions through this exercise, try it during your daily experiences. If you need additional assistance or notice a pattern in the way that you handle emotions that you would like to change, consult a counselor. Happy Brisk Buoyant Calm Carefree Cheerful Cheery Comfortable Complacent Contented Ecstatic Elated Enthusiastic Excited Exhilarated Festive Generous Glad Grateful Hilarious Inspired Jolly Joyous Jubilant Lighthearted Merry Optimistic Peaceful Playful Pleased Relaxed Restful Satisfied Serene Sparkling Spirited Surprised Thrilled Vivacious Eager Anxious Ardent Avid Desirous Earnest Enthusiastic Excited Intent Keen Proud Zealous Sad Ashamed Blah Choked up Compassionate Concerned Depressed Disappointed Discontented Discouraged Dismal Dreadful Dreary Dull Embarrassed Flat Gloomy Heavy-hearted Ill at ease In the dumps Low Melancholy Moody Mournful Out of sorts Quiet Shameful Somber Sorrowful Sulky Sullen Sympathetic Unhappy Useless Worthless Hurt Aching Afflicted Cold Crushed Despair Distressed Heartbroken Injured Isolated Lonely Offended Pained Pathetic Suffering Tortured Upset Worried Angry Annoyed Belligerent Bewildered 3 Bitter Boiling Confused Cross Enraged Frustrated Fuming Furious Grumpy Indignant Inflamed Infuriated Irate Irritated Offended Provoked Resentful Stubborn Sulky Sullen Wrathful Fearless Bold Brave Confident Courageous Daring Determined Encouraged Impulsive Independent Loyal Proud Reassured Secure Interested Absorbed Concerned Creative Curious Engrossed Excited Fascinated Inquiring Inquisitive Intrigued Sincere Doubtful Defeated Distrustful Dubious Evasive Helpless Hesitant Hopeless Indecisive Perplexed Pessimistic Powerless Questioning Skeptical Suspicious Unbelieving Uncertain Wavering Physical Breathless Empty Feisty Hollow Immobilized Nauseated Paralyzed Repulsed Sluggish Stretched Strong Sweaty Taut Tense Tired Uptight Weak Weary Affectionate Aggressive Appealing Belonging Close Loving Passionate Seductive Sexy Tender Warm Afraid Alarmed Anxious Appalled Apprehensive Awed Cautious Cowardly Dependent Dismayed Doubtful Fearful Fidgety Frightened Gutless Hesitant Horrified Hysterical Impatient Insecure Nervous Panicky Petrified Pressured Scared Shaky Shocked Suspicious Terrified Threatened Timid Tragic Wishy-washy Worried Miscellaneous Bored Distant Preoccupied Awkward Humble Cooperative Cruel Envious Jealous Mixed-up Hypocritical Phony Two-faced rodd Microsoft Word - ExpressingEmotions.doc