Venting: Getting Out from Under the Emotional Boulder

Have you ever had one of "those days"? You know the ones, where nothing seems to go your way. Your emotional state is being tested with every passing minute. Your frustrations just keep mounting; so high, in fact, now you are completely overwhelmed. You noticed that all those "screw-ups" seemed to follow you...all...day... long. Your job annoys you; buying a lottery ticket is an idea--until you open the wallet and see dust balls. Your family seems oblivious to the severity of your issues; reminding you to "knock it off" or "get a grip". You know you are suppose to be together emotionally, yet you can't find where all the pieces landed; nor fathom how to reattach them. Add to all this disarray; the pounding monster in your head. There you have it...one of "those days".

You tried fighting it off with your overly-positive attitude; to no avail. You ignored all the signs: lack of sleep, stress, brain is in overdrive, and your loss of time and money. No matter what you tried; prevention was unattainable. By the end of this exhausting day, you find yourself thanking God its all over. You even prayed for tomorrow to be, at minimum, 150% better. You did not think you were even religious; till today. You find yourself crawling towards your bed (still dressed) by 7:00 P.M. You have hung on as long as you possibly could. Now, you feel a soothing night's sleep is priority one; the only way to save yourself.

There is something major you overlooked. You survived. How you feel by day's end is solely based on how you deal with life. For every negative action you need five positive reactions to return the balance lost. We all know those special folks, who have twice the garbage to deal with, and they are still fighting to end their day well; at 11:59 P.M. These individuals have learned the secret. They exude an unbelievable amount of positivity and patience. They are constantly focusing on a silver lining; somewhere. They just never give up. No matter what life throws their way; they await with open arms to catch it.

What Do You Do?

Good in; bad out. Nothing is as serious as it may appear. This too, shall pass. Take a deep breath. Hold it in as long as you can, then pass the joint to your left. No! Just joshing. How about another round? No! Masking the issues and numbing your feelings does not mend your emotional state. Using these types of healers; hinders. They do not heal, they hurt your chances of regaining a full recovery.

Venting your frustrations are positive stress relievers. The right way to do it; the tricky part. We have all needed to vent at one time or another. Our approach, however, may need some adjustments. Just getting it off your chest, releases the weight on your shoulders. Next time, pay close attention to the other party involved. Did you vent successfully, or did you simply pass the ball and chain into someone else's arms?

Our minds go on a rampage during a venting session. We need to control our emotional outlets. We do not want innocent ventees to get electrocuted. The best way to cap the fuse is to initially announce your intentions. Prior notification allows the other party to prepare mentally and hands them an invitation of opinion.

Remember, venting is essential before handling any subject. It is crucial for the cool down period to be observed. When we are wounded, human nature has us lashing out. Protecting ourselves from future injuries is imperative. Mental injuries and stresses are ten times worse than physical ones. If you feel yourself wanting to do crazy (injury inducing) things; you are completely normal. Everyone wants to feel physical pain to be reassured they aren't numb. This behavior reinerates the fact that their mind is still operating "normally".

When Is It Over?

Emotions are often confused as feelings. This is such a horrible misconception. Emotions are released as feelings, they are the roots. Feelings are the signs we receive from our emotions. Runny nose, headache, and coughing are feelings...having a cold; emotions. Emotions control everything from our body's chemistry to our mental awareness. They guide us on a set path of eternal happiness, therefore, any enemy of that feels excruciating. This recognition keeps us safe and content within ourselves. It also helps us to change the important items in our day to day lives.

Excepting and taking pride in our feelings is the first step to calming our emotions. We take pride in our children's accomplishments, but forget our own. Focusing inward is the second step. Stop letting feelings mount into a volcano. Take them as they come. Work on each one individually. Soon you will start recognizing what it is that makes the feelings strong. Once you've got your finger on it, you can begin cutting the volcanic activity down. It takes time. You will feel better everyday. The day will soon come, when the volcano becomes dormant. Now you can deal and cope with life's little stresses in a healthy manner.

The quick start program is simple. Talk, talk, and vent. Vent all the time, then vent more. This will help others be able to assist in your healing process. Next, identify those bad things. After that, focus inward. Take pride in your feelings and understand what your emotions are. They are our guides. Now, begin weeding your garden and picking out all the filth. Take a deep breath. You are free! Solitude and peace will bring you serenity and comfort. Now, pass the joint to your left...just kidding.