Discussion Is it important to you that your emotional reactions are proportional/ justified?

[Forever Sleep]

To an extent, I think all emotions are valid- or justified. We surely 'feel' things for good reason. But then, I suppose I also think it's important to question whether we are over reacting. Especially if we choose to express those emotions.

On the one hand, I find myself questioning how reasonable my reactions are. Especially the strong emotions- like resentment, hate- but, also love too- being (myself- I believe,) prone to limerence.

On the other though- it's hard to put a stop to an emotion- even if we can reason that it's too extreme for the situation. In that case- I get stuck trying to justify it to myself. Is it because of past events becoming mixed up in everything?

That's especially appropriate to being triggered by something/ someone else. I find I become unreasonably annoyed by people who share traits with someone I had huge problems with in childhood. I try to remind myself why it's happening. Generally though- I've found it hard to keep those feelings out of it. I'm (slowly) learning that it's better to keep away from them also.

How good are you at managing your emotions? Do you try to supress them? Or, not express them? Does it matter to you- whether they or their intensity are justified?

 

[Lostandlooking]

It's more important to me that my feelings are being acknowledged. But often that doesn't happen. People just look at me weird. And I'm left feeling like the crazy one. I have disproportionate reactions, big emotional reactions to things that shouldn't be that big. But they are to me. And that's isolating. Usually I try to hide my emotions. Because I know they likely won't get acknowledged. If my feelings aren't in line with what is typically seen as justified or valid I feel disconnected.

 

[iguazo falls]

i had to make it not important because i cared too much about how justified or understood my emotions were; but at the end of the day it doesnt matter much to other people, it matters what we do. some people say that with the intent of scaring you into doing morally right actions or to invalidate you, but i mean it quite the opposite in that you should feel what you feel wholly and accept it. once the reaction has passed through and has been processed we may have a better picture of what we would actually like to do. i also feel a lot more comfortable lying about how i feel with a better intent which is i want the positive of a good impression but with the security of knowing i don't need the other person's approval and that in my own time i can feel however tf i want about whatever.