3 Dos & Don’ts for Supporting Someone with Big Emotions.
When our emotions get big, it may take us some time to properly understand and manage them.
Whether we’re afraid, angry, worried, or frustrated, learning how to calm down our nervous system takes a lot of work.
However, calming ourselves down sometimes doesn’t cut it. When I’m anxious, frustrated, or dealing with a complicated situation, the people around me play a huge role in what’s going to happen next: they either force my nervous system to shut down or they regulate it.
I’ve come to realize that having the right people around me when I’m dealing with big emotions is crucial to my well-being. Although I often say that “I’m okay,” the truth is I need undivided attention and love. The people who take care of me indirectly teach me how to take care of myself.
However, emotional support can be tricky. Oftentimes, those who desire to regulate my nervous system end up shutting it down. When they say the wrong thing at the wrong time, I feel hurt and disappointed.
When we’re dealing with complicated emotions, we often feel worse when people’s attempts to help fail. Although they help with good intentions in mind, we need to understand that there are certain types of statements and actions…
