To explain what the curve of emotion is, we must first define what an emotion is, many define it as a subjective state with an immense and intense emotional burden.
If it is quite difficult to explain what emotions are, we can all clearly describe these subjective states. They can be described, for example, by recalling a situation in which we feel anger or happiness.
- Many of these emotions.
- From sadness to fear.
- Have a very similar development.
- All this is defined as the curve of emotions.
According to researchers such as MartÃnez-Sunez et al. (2011), the suppression or non-expression of emotional events very important to the person (for example, regretting the loss of a loved one, express affection?) It can cause marked physiological overactivation, immunosuppression and completely opposite effects on physical and mental health in the medium and long term.
So why are emotions so relevant and their expression even more important?More related to homeostasis and survival? Extrapersonal?That relate to a more social role.
For example, when an alarm response is issued by a dangerous stimulus, that is, when we are afraid, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system, which in turn activates the adrenal glands to emit glucocorticoids, is activated.
Adrenaline and endogenous opiates are emitted if the body has been attacked, to relieve pain, on the other hand, it reduces the activity of systems not necessary to escape at that time, such as the digestive.
Therefore, through fear, the endangered individual increases his heart rate, contracts the spleen for the release of red blood cells in case of injury, dilates the pupils, etc.
With regard to the extrapersonal functions of emotions, we find that they allow us to communicate intentions to others, share with others what we feel and control expression, gestures and voice easy to influence the behavior of others as well.
As Aristotle wrote, man is a zoon politikon and emotions also play a socializing role. For example, and in relation to the above, specific answers can be sought in individuals through certain emotions.
Therefore, there are people who use sadness to receive support, others who use love or joy to achieve something, and so we could continue with this more instrumental part of emotions.
It’s hard to maintain the maximum intensity of an emotion for a long time. The normal functioning of an emotion is an escalation in which sensations become stronger and stronger.
You can reach a summit, a roof where the emotion could not be more intense, later, the magnitude usually decreases until you return to the baseline.
This, which seems purely intuitive, is a fact that many people forget in their day-to-day life, and even more so when it comes to mental health, this happens with emotions and also with psychic constructs, such as anxiety or panic attacks.
Therefore, none of the above usually lasts more than ten minutes
Despite knowledge of the emotional intensity that accompanies fear, anger or sadness, or perhaps precisely the cause of this vehemence, patients who attend the session often perform very important actions at the climax of the emotional curve, which can become counterproductive.
First, when therapy isn’t yet as advanced for the person to know how to handle their reactions, it’s helpful to treat the curve of emotions.
The goal is not to control, but to avoid as many negative consequences as an intense and poorly managed emotion can have.
Therefore, in patients suffering from depression, anxiety, bereavement, couples therapy, etc. , it is very useful to perform detailed psychoeducation on the functioning of emotions in the first sessions.
Plus, you need to focus on what can’t be done when you’re on top of that emotion. The course of therapy will allow the person not to feel these emotions so intensely and exacerbated.
Therefore, it is important to explain what are the three actions that should not be performed when you are at the top of an emotion. This is recommended because at a time of such emotional intensity it is difficult for these actions to be carried out from a rational point of view.
These actions are
It is important that, in addition to listing actions that cannot be performed at the height of an emotion, the therapist recommends others that can.
This means explaining concrete actions that may replace those that involve a desire to think, solve the problem, or make decisions, it may be helpful to list these alternatives so that the individual takes them into account at times of greater emotional intensity. .