Be emotionally aware and express effectively

It is important to for us to have an openness in talking about our emotions, for which it is sometimes necessary to even build on our emotional vocabulary.

We need to explore our own emotional awareness and be willing to initiate a discussion about the same with others as well.

We ourselves need to talk about emotional awareness, and further demonstrate alternative ways of expressing one’s emotions.

RECOGNIZE MANIFESTATIONS OF SUPPRESSED EMOTIONS

Yes, such suppressed feelings could be externalized behaviourally. If a person tends to suppress one’s emotions and feelings within himself or herself, it is likely to lead to an externalization of these same emotions in other indirect expressions, which could be in the form of increase in somatic or physical complaints, crying spells, temper tantrums for children or increased irritability in adults.

OFFER OUTLETS TO VENT EMOTIONS

While human communication can take many forms, words tend to dominate most of the communication in our society.

However, human experiences cannot always be entirely reduced to words, as some experiences and emotional states are beyond words.

Expressing one’s feelings, especially for children, who are unable to verbalize their emotions, is much easier through an alternate medium, in the form of art, play, dance, movement, narrative, or any other form of creative expression.

DO NOT RIDICULE OR SLIGHT FEELINGS

As we encourage others to become emotionally expressive, it is vital that we provide a secure and safe environment for them to talk about feelings and emotions. They should not feel threatened, and therefore we need to avoid ridiculing or mocking their feelings.

Instead, we need to recognize, acknowledge as well as value their emotions, to encourage them to be more expressive.

PROVIDE A LISTENING EAR

We need to make sure that we do not miss out on any effort made by another person to express his or her feelings.

Therefore, we need to be willing to be an active listener, so that we can serve as an available source of support with whom the person can engage comfortably and freely.

The author is directordepartment of Mental health and Behavioral Sciences, Fortis healthcare