Are emotions and feelings the same?

There are many words to describe how we feel but feelings are not the same as emotions.  Feelings can be described as emotions plus cognitions which equals feelings.  Emotions are core Nervous system and Limbic system responses that are physically felt.  The more we can become attuned to our body the more we can experience and be connected to our emotions for the purpose of healing and living life to the fullest.  

SUDS scale helps us to identify the intensity of what we are feeling

Although there are basic emotions that can be identified but further to that emotions can be understood in their intensity through the use of  adjectives that gives us the clues as to its intensity and quality.  To further and better quantify our emotions it is best to use what is called the SUDS scale or the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale.  Through the use of this scale we can better subjectively and experientially determine what our emotional experience is like.  The scale starts at 0, which means totally calm and peaceful but yet fully aware sliding all the way up to 10 which represents the most intense of emotions.

What are the basic emotions?

There are many prevailing theories and observations, but I will share my thoughts concerning this subject as a clinician in my next post, Understanding Basic Emotions.

Gradients of emotions

When we experience emotions we do not experience only one at a time.  According to the senior researcher Dacher Keltner and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center he states that through their research that there are 27 dimensions of distinct emotional experiences found when a study of 800 men were you used as they watched over 2,000 video clips that were developed by researchers.  In other words we experience emotional states that are quite colourful and complex rather than experiencing emotions one at a time as in isolation.  We experience emotions in different intensities and in different combinations.

Emotions are powerful!  They are a part of our vital force our soul but when they are in disarray then we can experience many unpleasant things like depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and anger management issues.  To better understand yourself and develop emotional self-regulation such therapies listed below will help us with just that:

 

>> EMDR Therapy

 

>> Homeopathy 

 

At New Hope Counselling Centre we can help you to improve your mood and emotions as well as the quality of your relationships.  We offer you hope for a better tomorrow.  Call us today!

 

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