In times of crisis, it is normal to experience fluctuating emotions and even physical discomfort such as back pain or headache. Learning to manage them allows us to advance more confidently at this particular time.
Written and verified by the psychologist GetPersonalGrowth.
Last update: 15 November 2021
Managing emotions in times of crisis is not easy. We generally experience them as a chaotic, disturbing and exhausting whole. Fear mixes with anxiety, we feel a hint of hope, the one that encourages us to move forward; soon after, however, frustration or even anger appears if we see that things are not going the way we would like.
Emotions are in constant motion, they change, they come and go, trap us and alter our thoughts. The anatomy of these psychophysiological realities conditions us and generally we do not know how to exploit their potential. They are invaluable because they allow us to move forward, to survive in such a complex scenario.
Charles Dickens said in Great Expectations that a heart that loves, feels, rejoices and suffers reflects the greatest wisdom. Maybe we forgot about it. Knowing how to experience the wide range of emotions and feelings that life offers us (and learning from them) is a great advantage.
In these times of crisis, change and uncertainty, we are undoubtedly facing a decisive test. The one for which it is not enough to survive or remain standing in the storm, indulging every assault or setback that destiny reserves for us.
It is also about develop a plan to be successful, advance with determination, clarify our goals and achieve balance, well-being.
Managing emotions during the crisis
The brain processes seizures as a threat. These periods, normal and almost predictable in the life span or cycle of any society, are interpreted by our mind as the interruption of something we took for granted. A change in those aspects that were safe and predictable activates the amygdala in our brain. Negative emotions such as anger or fear arise.
Anthropologist Juan Luis Arsuaga points out that every age, each historical cycle has its own crisis and we have touched this. However, there is no single strategy that allows us to happily get out of this context.
What remains to be done is, in reality, obliged: to be determined to behave responsibly. And that means, first of all, looking after your own mental and emotional health.
Accept the emotional ups and downs
To manage our emotions during times of crisis, we must first understand an important aspect. The swing of emotions is made up of ups and downs: now we get angry, then we hope, then we feel anguish. This is completely normal.
We have to welcome all the emotions we feel; we have to accept every sensation in our body, every feeling that occupies our mind. These emotional ups and downs are not the result of a mind losing control, it is not the result of a psychological disorder. Again, they are completely normal.
Emotions during the crisis are visceral
When we're under pressure, we tend to feel visceral emotions. What does it mean? That we will experience stomach pain, that we will feel more tired and that we will want to sleep during the day. Then hyperactivity will arise, the desire to move. Headache or stomach pain later.
These “nomadic” ailments are the result of the emotions that are expressed on our body and they ask to be accepted, understood and managed by our mind. So let's not forget to pay attention to all these physical sensations.
Managing emotions during the crisis: giving space and transforming
To manage our emotions during a moment of crisis, we must first understand our emotional pattern in these circumstances. That is to say, there are those who, when faced with change or uncertainty, react with strong anxiety. Others, on the other hand, take a more calm, focused and flexible approach.
Whatever the attitude, we know this is a difficult time for everyone. The important thing is not to lose control. Mental health is about feeling the right emotions at the right time and figuring out how to react. This means that in difficult times it is understandable to feel sadness, anger or fear. Not recognizing these emotions, denying them or amplifying them to the point of being overwhelmed is not the right attitude.
You have to know how to give a name to every emotion. The great emotional skein must be dissolved into smaller parts in order to identify individual emotions, give them space, accept them. Then the time will come to "tame them".
It is clear that we cannot transform a negative emotion into a positive one. Nobody is able to go from sadness to happiness, even to want it with all his strength. The brain does not have a switch, but a prefrontal cortex that allows you to reflect, to look at things from a perspective.
A study conducted at the University of Michigan by psychologist Barbara Fredikson came to interesting conclusions. Educating the brain in dimensions such as hope, faith in a better tomorrow and the idea that things can change can help us overcome times of crisis.
Creating emotional shelters: We are all having the same experience
Managing emotions also means knowing how to ask for help. We cannot forget that this crisis is global and that somehow most of us are experiencing the same fears and needs. It's always good to be able to count on someone; creating emotional havens with people to talk to, let off steam and share thoughts is very cathartic.
To conclude, as Albert Einstein said, in moments of crisis only the imagination is more important than knowledge. It is the imagination that helps us to create possible paths towards change, to answer our problems. However, we cannot forget the emotional aspect. Taking care of this inner universe is essential to always give the best of us.
