I would like to re-post an excerpt of this article from the PsychCenral site because it is a necessary and useful technique for our mental health as well as for advancement on our self-realisation path. I do encourage you to read the full post though.
A Technique for Feeling Painful Feelings
[By MARGARITA TARTAKOVSKY, M.S.]
Many of us avoid feeling our feelings because we worry that feeling them will be more painful than just pretending they don’t exist. Or we assume they’ll simply skulk away (and stay away permanently).
However, according to therapist and author Tina Gilbertson, LPC, in her book Constructive Wallowing: How to Beat Bad Feelings By Letting Yourself Have Them, “You let feelings ‘go’ by feeling them fully. Once they’re felt, they can leave.”
Of course, feeling painful feelings can be just that: painful. So it’s totally understandable that we want to avoid them. As Gilbertson writes, avoiding pain is natural.
Emotional pain, she writes, is like physical pain: It warns us that something is wrong. It communicates what’s important to us, how our lives are going and whether we need to change course.
“But the pain itself is not wrong; it’s only the messenger. When we refuse to (w)allow in our emotional pain, we’re not avoiding trouble, we’re shooting the messenger who’s bringing news of trouble. And if we shoot the messenger, it’s not going to keep delivering clear messages.”
In Constructive Wallowing
When doing this exercise Gilbertson suggests having a comfortable place to sit or lie down; a box of tissues; and one or several pillows.
[Below is just an excerpt, please read the full post or even better get your own copy of the book Constructive Wallowing: How to Beat Bad Feelings by Letting Yourself Have Them
T: Tell yourself the situation.
Gilbertson suggests sticking to the facts without judging them.
R: Realize what you’re feeling.
Focus on what you’re feeling right now, in this moment. Whatever you’re feeling is perfectly OK. As Gilbertson says, “There’s no need to make sure your emotions are ‘correct’ given the situation.”
U: Uncover self-criticism.
“We criticize ourselves to make ourselves better people,” writes Gilbertson. But this criticism only makes us feel worse.
“And then we criticize ourselves again for feeling bad! It’s a negative feedback loop.”
Self-criticism sabotages our healing, and it encourages us to hide the truth from ourselves.
T: Try to understand yourself.
According to Gilbertson, “Instead of evaluating your feelings as good or bad, or yourself as good or bad for having the feelings you do, put your brain to work on understanding yourself.”
Consider why you might be feeling the way you’re feeling. For instance, she suggests asking yourself: “Why might a good person feel this way?” Don’t focus on whether a good person should feel this way.
H: Have the feeling.
Sit with your feelings. Cry. Punch those pillows. Talk to yourself using kind words.
“As you experience your true feelings, let them matter to you as if you were your own dear friend.”
…
You might not feel better immediately after doing this technique. Or you might, but then a few hours or days later, you might feel worse. This is natural, according to Gilbertson. She likens it to kicking up dust. “Things don’t settle back down right away.”
And, as Gilbertson says throughout the book, remember that whatever feelings you’re feeling, “it’s OK.”
Why doesn’t the writer talk about fear as an emotion? She says anxiety is not an emotion, but anxiety is in the galaxy of fear. Fear feels like an emotion; particularly in situations in which one cannot affect change. Or when we are dealing with uncertainty surrounding very hard and painful circumstances like someone missing, or the loss of a beloved friend or family member.
Thank you Lola for your comment and question.
You can deal effectively with fear and anxiety using the TRUTH method. In fact the method can reveal the primary feelings underneath the anxiety which is considered a secondary emotion or feeling.
Btw, I could not find where the author says “anxiety is not an emotion”.
All the best.