EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I. WHAT IS EMOTION?

Emotion comes from the Latin word “Emovere” which means “to move out”.
Emotions are spontaneous responses to certain stimuli. It is a natural and random response
to situations that may cause anger, sadness, happiness and fear. They are caused by
stimulus that demands either positive or negative reactions. Emotions are complex, a state of
feeling that results in physical and psychological changes influencing behaviors it arouses the
nervous system. Emotions emanate from the right area of or brain that is basically subjective
and feeling. Furthermore, it has to be noted that emotions results from one’s perception of a
specific situation. Even the imagined “death of a loved one” can already trigger responses
and emotions which can be determined through verbal and non-verbal responses which may
include facial expressions and gestures.

Physiological reactions may result from certain emotional state that may even lead
to “psychosomatic illness”. This is an illness that is produced by the brain as it perceives its
current reality. An anxious, grieving and angry brain can definitely poison its own physical
self.

What Kind of Emotions Affect You?

A. Positive Emotions

A classification of pleasant emotion which may include happiness, excitement joy,

relief, triumph, jubilation. It connotes an expression where one finds himself smiling or
laughing with a feel of “elation”. These comes from positive experiences especially when one
is able to attain or satisfy his expectations and desires.

B. Negative Emotions

A classification of emotion involving sadness, anxiety, anger, jealousy, fear and the
likes. It is shown through facial expression that is manifested in an unhappy face, tears,
discomfort, pain and even psychosomatic illness.

What is Stress?

It is defined as a state of extreme difficulty, pressure or strain. It is way by which the

body responds to the pressures from the external environment. Stress is unpleasant as it
puts the mind and the body in a dilemma where it is threatened or challenged.

The concept of stress was developed by Hans Selye (1936) which brough forth the
theory of stress reaction known as the “General Adaptation Syndrome”. This states that a
body under stress generally undergoes response stages: Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
Alarm happens when the individual recognizes the threat; resistance is when the person
desires either to confront the stressor known as “Fight; or to run away from the stressor as
“Flight. The final phase which is exhaustion is where body’s resources will be depleted.

Some Stressors include the following:

 Illness in the family
 Loss of a loved one
 Quitting school
 Divorce/separation
 Failing in school
 Getting into trouble

Types of Stress

1. Positive Stress or “Eustress”

This is experienced by the body as an unpleasant stimulus becomes a source of

motivation. Such happens when the attainment of the goal is being expected. And so despite
the provision of effort and extreme sacrifice whether psychological or physical, the individual
is motivated to push more to achieve the goal.

2. Negative Stress or “Distress”

This type of stress causes not only pain in the mind but also in the body as it makes
the individual literally sick. This is brought forth by the helplessness and hopelessness
created by the stressor on the person.

Effects of Extreme Emotions and Stress

Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. According
to the helpguide.org. when you feel threatened, your nervous system responds by releasing a
flood of stress hormones, and including adrenaline and cortisol, which rouse the body for
emergency action. Your heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath
quickens, and your senses become sharper.

These physical changes increase your strength and stamina, speed your reaction
time, and enhance focus.

This is known as “fight or flight” stress response and is your body’s way of protecting
you. When working properly, stress helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In
emergency situations, stress can save your life – giving you extra strength to defend yourself,
for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. Stress can also help
you rise to meet challenges. Stress is what keeps you on your toes during a presentation at
work, sharpens your concentration when you’re attempting the game-winning free throw, r
drives you to study for an exam when you’d rather be watching T.V. However, beyond our
comfort zone, stress stops being helpful and can start causing major damage to your mind
and body.

Responses of the body to extreme emotion and stress overload

(http://www.helpguide.org.htm) include the following:

A. Physical Impact

 Increase in the rate and depth of breathing

 Blood becomes more concentrated
 Heart and pulse rate increases
 Senses become extremely keen
 “Butterflies in one’s stomach”
 “Goosebumps”
 Cold sweat
 Dry mouth
 Adrenaline rush

B. Health Problems

 Pain of any kind

 Heart Disease
 Digestive problems
 Sleep problems
 Depression
 Weight problems
 Auto Immune diseases
 Skin conditions, such as eczema

C. Cognitive Symptoms

 Memory problems
 Inability to concentrate
 Poor judgment
 Seeing only the negative
 Anxious or racing thoughts
 Constant worrying
D. Emotional Symptoms

 Moodiness
 Irritability or short temper
 Agitation, inability to relax
 Feeling overwhelmed
 Sense of loneliness and isolation
 Depression or general unhappiness

E. Behavioral Symptoms

 Eating more or less

 Sleeping too much or too little
 Isolating yourself from others
 Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
 Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
 Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

Handling Extreme Emotions and Stress

Extreme emotions and stress are common in human life. Its debilitating effect
renders us to unable to healthy confront such and resolve the same.

Hereunder are some ways to respond efficiently to extreme emotions and stress
(https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects,htm)

1. Social Engagement

 The most evolved strategy to keep ourselves feeling calm and sa

2. Mobilization

 Otherwise known as the fight-or-flight response. When social engagement

isn’t an appropriate response and we need to either defend ourselves or run
away from danger, the body prepares for mobilization.

3. Immobilization

 This is the least evolved response to stress and used by the body only when
social engagement and mobilization have failed.

What determines your ability to manage stress?

 We are all different. Some people seem to be able to roll with life’s punches, while
others tend to crumble in the face of smaller obstacles or frustrations. Some people even
seen to thrive on the excitement and challenge of a high-stress lifestyle.

Your ability to tolerate stress depends on many factors, including the quality of your
relationships and support network, your life experiences, your emotional intelligence, and
genetics.

Managing Extreme Emotions and Stress Effectively

Handling stress and emotions vary from one person to another. This basically in
accordance with how a person looks onto his current circumstance. A number of variables
may either aggravate or simply the issue or concern relative to how well a person can tolerate
his stress and extreme emotions.

Several Elements Offer Efficient Ways to Allow One to Receive the Blows of Stress and
Emotions with Complete Resilience:

1. Seek Help: From those who understand your concern particularly those in authority.
Support from this concerned individuals who may include your family, relatives, friends,
concerned institutions can be a good remedy to the mind and body.

2. Explore: On those issues that gives you much stress and is subjecting you to extreme
emotions. Knowing everything about your issues and worries will shed light and provide you
enlightenment.

3. Develop Hardiness: A syndrome that mitigates the impact stress and extreme emotions.
Hardiness is a disposition marked by commitment, challenge and control that is directly related
with strong stress resistance.

4. Be Positive: “Positive thoughts attract positive people and positive events” according to
the “The Secret”. One should start from an attitude of gratitude so he may see the things that
he possesses rather that his deficiencies.

5. Practice proper breathing technique: To relax your muscles, your body and your mind.
During moments of stress and extreme emotions by breathing in four counts (“inhale 1,2,3,4”)
and exhale eight counts (“8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1)
6. Use Mantra: Look onto the mirror and do positive self-talk. Focus on your beauty, your
strengths, your uniqueness and the things that you have. Practice deep breathing while doing
this and start believing in you through positive self-talk.

7. Humor: Is helpful in these circumstances. One should find comic relief by watching funny
and reading feel-good books.

8. Keep yourself busy: An idle person is subjected to more negativity as he is preoccupied

more with these issues. Tendency is just to discuss more about his hurts and pains as there
is nothing relevant pre-occupies him.

9. Protect yourself by improving your self-esteem: A person with high sense of self-
esteem develops a shield that will secure him from greater pain. If one has a positive
assessment of his over-all worth the he creates a positive outcome in his life.

10. Take a break: Go on a vacation and commune with nature. Go back to the basics of life
and find a place that can relax and soothe the mind. Away from the bustling suburba.