stop - check in - label the feeling

Just a reminder that you may think you’re just thinking, but you’re probably just having a strong emotional reaction as well. As a society, we’re often taught to focus on our thoughts above all else, meaning that we’re often completely dis-embodied and disconnected from what the rest of us - the emotional body - may be going through.

Whenever you’re experiencing a stream of thoughts, repetitive and pressured thinking, it’s good practice to stop: ask yourself - what is it that I’m feeling right now?

A strong ‘negative’ emotion like sadness, guilt or shame is often closely followed by anxiety, because our nervous system tends to register anything that feels uncomfortable to be a threat. In a heartbeat, a chain response is set off:

Emotional response —> Discomfort —-> Threat(!!!) —-> Anxiety —-> Fight / Flight / Freeze / Fawn response —-> Brain tries hard to ‘fix’ the problem by feeding you thoughts about the trigger

Anxiety is what usually gives rise to repetitive thoughts, fearful imagery, worst-case-scenario thinking. And because all of these thoughts are playing on loop, available to us 24/7… We tend to fall into the rabbit-hole of fearful thoughts, feeling as though we have no choice but to do so.

Know that underneath anxiety is often a whole vat of bubbling emotions.

Many highly sensitive people also tend to have vivid memories, thoughts and imaginations. This is also part of what makes you really creative! However, a common pitfall for many HSPs is believing that what you’re thinking about has to be true, especially when the thought is accompanied by a strong emotional charge or backstory.

For those of us who grew up in environments that may have labelled emotions as weak, ‘overly sensitive’, ‘too dramatic’ or ‘attention seeking’, accessing the emotional body and labeling the feeling may be a challenge. The judging mind may come in to try to censure the process. In the case of not really knowing how you’re feeling, having someone to talk to about it may be helpful.

No matter how long it has been, it is possible to develop a deeper relationship with your feelings. Knowing what you’re feeling and integrating the messages from your feelings into your decision making process can help you make more informed and satisfying choices for yourself.

What are you feeling right now? Let’s talk about it.