Table of contents hide 1 Emotions what is its function? 2 Emotions that dominate us How do they originate? 3 Feelings as resistance mechanisms 4 Technique for managing emotions

Emotional life can be mysterious, many times emotions appear and disappear for no apparent reason, they can make people's lives wonderful or unfortunate. The importance of emotions in experience is observed in the fact that during all times and in all cultures, emotional conflict is a key component of all dramas. However, many people don't know how emotions work and why they experience them.

In this way, the great Aristotle already assigned to the human psyche, three faculties: the first plant (or instinctive), the other animal (or emotional) and the rational (or mental) that lived in the physical body. The balance of all these elements produced a state of “ εὐδαιμονία ” (eudaimonia) or happiness, through the good habit or exercises of the virtues, which included both the intellectual virtues, as well as those of emotional control.

Emotions, what is your function?

In everyday language, people refer to emotions as if they were a specific thing or even more; isolated. But emotions are not an isolated thing. They are a complex process, with both biological and mental components, which function as impulses for action. Emotions are mental, in the sense that they are caused by the interpretation of an event, which then produces a complex series of biochemical reactions that are described as a "feeling . "

In this sense, biochemical reactions are involved that also generate an “urgency for action” . Sometimes, the action that the subject performs in response to an emotion is mental; Like when you don't agree with what to do or say - out of fear - in front of another person (your boss, parents, etc.) then you decide not to say, or do anything. Other times, it involves both thinking and physical action, such as telling someone what they want or getting what they want.

To understand what emotions are, it is necessary to take a look at the brain structure, Goleman (1995) points out that from the: “primitive brain - the brainstem” emerged the emotional centers that, millions of years later, gave rise to the brain thinking - or "neocortex" - that large bulb of tissues folded over each other that make up the upper stratum of the nervous system ”(p.20). On the other hand, the limbic system intervenes in the management of emotions, since by intervening in learning and memory, adaptive automatic responses to the external environment are guaranteed.

So as you can see, emotions serve to manage and adapt behavior towards the environment, whether for survival, for stressful or pleasant events. Emotions are generated both in response to a need that has been met, as well as to a present threat, or to a loss that has occurred or can occur (generating anxiety for example). Therefore, emotions connect the individual with their previous experiences and circumstances of the past that have activated some emotion. The emotional state also generates, a noticeable change in the body either in the face, or even cause tremor. For example, fear guarantees survival, but in excess it can cause paralysis and anguish.

Emotions that dominate us How do they originate?

Consequently, emotions can alter or cause bias in reason, and take possession in the face of prudence, leading to instinctive and impulsive behaviors that can be counterproductive and that then lead the person to repent of their actions or not To know very well what happened to him, this is what Goleman (1995) calls emotional or limbic kidnapping.

At that time, there is an affective blindness where the hippocampus and the cerebral tonsil is involved, which is the center of the brain's emotional response. In humans, the amygdala is a cluster of interconnected cells that settle on the brainstem ; They are two and are located on each side of the brain. In humans, the amygdala is relatively large compared to that of other animals.

To this end, these limbic structures are primarily responsible for learning and memory of the brain, and are the repository of emotional memory, if the tonsil is separated from the rest of the brain, this will trigger an inability to appreciate the emotional meaning of events and of one's own feelings The amygdala is related to passions, such as crying, envy, hate, jealousy, joy, empathy, etc.

In addition, the amygdala secretes norepinephrine, which is the neurotransmitter responsible for generating the processes of attention and alertness of consciousness to external stimuli generating responses before sensory information reaches the neocortex . It is in moments of tension where the emotional brain takes or kidnaps the rational soul . As far as the emotional kidnapping seems to imply two different dynamics: the activation of the tonsil and the failure to activate the neocortical (or rational / conscious) processes that usually keep our emotional responses balanced.

On the other hand, many philosophers and psychologists have considered basic emotions, for example: joy, sadness, fear, surprise, aversion, and anger. However, this time, it will be based on the premise that there are 3 emotions that make up all the others, and that in turn, are protected or covered up by feelings and denials (fear, shame and pride, explained in the next section) . Such emotions, according to Shivagham's emotional integration are: Abandonment, Rejection and Blame. Thus, for example, abandonment is shaped by a feeling of existential emptiness, being the part of the person who feels lonely, desperately wanting to be filled or completed.

Therefore, being unconscious of its interior, the subject will seek to fill its void through the exterior and not rarely in a neurotic way. For example: in drugs, addictions or in couples who do not know how to love. Now , what happens when the void that was to be filled has been "filled" (by projection) by emotions not desired by the subject's Ego? Rejection is formed or born. Finally, the Fault, is the uncertainty that the existential or inner emptiness is never filled, refers to the fear of not being loved, so that a person with guilt usually shows certain traits of dependence and complacency towards others, seeking Love through external approval.

Feelings as resistance mechanisms

The egotic part of the person, in situations of painful, unpleasant, adverse or emotional kidnapping, usually resort to a series of unconscious denials to avoid taking responsibility for their situation. Among them, the irrational method stands out, which causes paralysis, cognitive distortions, the need for control or obsession in the face of a situation of possible threat. So it is vital to ask, what do I feel threatens me before "Xs" situation? It must be clear that fear is always the consequences or results of any unpleasant event.

Another feeling that must be recognized is pride and shame . The first is activated when the ego feels threatened or affected in its belief system (ranging from actions, tastes, thoughts, opinions, etc.) and can be manifested as the claim that the circumstances that occur " do not interest me " is say, an attitude of pride, likewise, manifests the bad habit of judging . This means that the person is not accepted as he is. The person, faced with a fact that makes him proud, must ask himself honestly , how do I feel about what has happened? What is inside me that produces a shell that prevents me from seeing beyond?

Instead, shame occurs when the ego activates the belief system of judging against itself. This generates the feeling of escape, of wanting to hide, and isolate. Shame is the mechanism by which one avoids (or deflects) observing the situation of discomfort in order to hide from it, it is possible that a part of the person rejects himself.

On the other hand, it is necessary to be clear that, during the process of emotional lack of control, and in the face of unpleasant excitement reactions, drama arises, and as a common resistance mechanism, the phenomenon of projection occurs. Such a mechanism is articulated by the non-acceptance of the unpleasant, that is to say: what the subject does not accept that he lives within or does not recognize in himself; it is deposited abroad (other people, situations or things) thus preventing the person from taking responsibility for their status. The more unpleasant sensations and pain in you, the more tendency there is to project.

Technique to handle emotions

With everything seen, we must consider that emotions can cause an obfuscation in the individual, so the ego uses a series of resistance mechanisms to not access the painful part or not consciously admitted. Causing reactions such as drama and not-so-operational behaviors. The drama is when the pain, or emotional discomfort, controls the individual and beats him, causing an emotional abduction as Goleman will affirm. Now what technique is effective in dealing with emotional conflicts?

One of the most effective techniques is that created by Master Shivagham, called emotional integration. This, unlike other techniques and currents, not only allows us to understand a problem of the painful experience lived, but invites us to accept what is lived internally, however painful it may be, teaching to find the autonomy itself, disintegrating in turn the conflict. since just understanding would not be enough to solve it.

The first step is that you find yourself in a comfortable position, preferably sitting and with your eyes closed. Then focus your attention or go inside yourself, then bring to mind a problem situation, and start letting emotions flow, breathing calmly from the abdomen.

The next step is to contemplate that I am aware that I am aware which allows you to focus your awareness on the discomfort. Do not forget that consciousness is what dilutes pain. This will allow you to accept and recognize when you enter the drama.

Then, they will resort to Breathing, to inhabit the body, and to feel it, that is, to bring awareness to your whole being (mental, vital, emotional and bodily). Next, start observing by identifying what resistance mechanisms are happening inside (fear-shame or pride) and consciously let those feelings happen without repressing them, if necessary repeat Mentally, I don't believe in drama, my emotions don't control me. This technique according to Shivagham is synthesized in the formula RHSO (breath, habit, I feel I observe) what also serves to regulate states of distress and panic.

In the same way, once the resistances or denials are consciously integrated, we proceed to feel the emotions (abandonment, rejection and guilt correlated to the problem situation). Try to feel if there is any sense of abandonment (emptiness, loneliness) of rejection or guilt, allowing you to feel them consciously, in order to release some negative charges.

Then take a deep breath and you will begin to imagine and visualize in every corner of your being, millions of smiling faces that emanate joy and happiness, joy and happiness, feeling how this energy flows throughout your body, for about 1 or 2 min. Finally return to the here and now slowly.

Author : Kevin Samir Parra Rueda, editor in the big family of hermandadblanca.org

References:

• Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence. Why is it more important than the IQ? . United States of America: Zeta editions.
• Shivagham (Producer). (2014, July 2014). Connect with you and find peace. [YouTube program]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_auLTHxj1R0&t=1s [Accessed: 2017, October 7].
• Technique Channeled by: Shivagham. (Producer). (2016, February 01). Emotional integration: Introduction . [YouTube program]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwLT0YEM74g&t=5s [Accessed: 2017, October 7].