If you’re grieving the death of a spouse or close family member, now isn’t the time for major life decisions. The death of a loved one is among the most stressful events a person can experience, according to the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory, also known as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS).1 Given the emotional and physical toll a death can have on … Read more
Fantasizing about running away, or getting close to actually doing so, is perhaps more common than you may think. At its core, running away is a means to escape our current world—a world that isn’t serving us the way we desire. Maybe you feel stuck or bored and are craving a renewed sense of vigor. … Read more
Narcissistic rage is a term that was first coined by author Heinz Kohut in 1972 to refer to the tendency for people with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) to fly into a rage with what might seem like the slightest provocation or no obvious provocation at all. People with NPD require that others give them consistent admiration and … Read more
What is the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion? The Cannon-Bard (or Thalamic) theory of emotion is a physiological explanation of emotion developed by Walter Cannon and Philip Bard. Cannon-Bard theory states that we experience emotions and physiological reactions such as sweating, trembling, and muscle tension simultaneously. More specifically, it suggests that emotions result when the thalamus … Read more
Have you ever lost control of your emotions and did something in the heat of the moment that you later regretted? Perhaps you’ve “lost it” or blown up at someone—your partner or child, work colleague, or perhaps the driver of another car—to such a degree that later, you realized was uncalled for. If your answer … Read more
Affect refers to the outward expression of a person’s internal emotions. It includes a range of emotional experiences, often described as either positive or negative, and encompasses both moods and emotions.1 For most people, there is congruence between affect and circumstance; for example, if you are given the news that a friend has passed away, … Read more
Displacement is a psychological defense mechanism in which a person redirects a negative emotion from its original source to a less threatening recipient. A classic example of the defense is displaced aggression.1 If a person is angry but cannot direct their anger toward the source without consequences, they might “take out” their anger on a person or thing … Read more
Dysregulation, or emotional dysregulation, is an inability to control or regulate one’s emotional responses, which can lead to significant mood swings, significant changes in mood, or emotional lability. It can involve many emotions, including sadness, anger, irritability, and frustration. While dysregulation is typically thought of as a childhood problem that usually resolves itself as a child … Read more
An empath is a person highly attuned to the feelings and emotions of those around them. Empaths feel what another person is feeling at a deep emotional level. Their ability to discern what others are feeling goes beyond empathy, which is defined simply as the ability to understand the feelings of others. Instead, being an empath extends to … Read more
Emotional detachment refers to being disconnected or disengaged from the feelings of other people. This can involve an inability or an unwillingness to get involved in the emotional lives of other people. While this detachment may protect people from stress, hurt, and anxiety, it can also interfere with a person’s psychological, social, and emotional well-being. … Read more