Emotion and Psychology

Emotions are a mix of variables affecting the physiology, expressive behaviors and conscious experience of an individual. Some people may experience heart pounding, a quickened pace, and thoughts or feelings about a situation, cognitively computing what emotions will be aroused, such as, fear, happiness, sadness etc.

Sometimes a response to arousal from one event spills over into the response of another event, thus giving the feeling of overwhelmed emotions. A continuous spillover may cause an enormous amount of stress to the individual and sometimes with tragic results, especially if it has negative valence.

At this point, the body releases stress hormones called epinephrine and norepinephrine. The surge of these hormones increases heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Sustained stress can be taxing to the body, yet can also be adaptive.

Now, outward signs of emotion can also intensify it, so a person who acts on his emotion of anger, may end up completely enraged and cause serious harm to others or property, if he chooses to find another outlet that is constructive and calming, such as building a bird house, going for a walk or playing an instrument he will be able to reduce the arousal effect and calm down. This constructive method of calming ones emotion allows the body time to reach normal hormone levels again.

Some people who act out their anger readily rely on familiar acts, like hurting others, screaming, destroying property etc. These methods actually fuel their aggression and can become habit forming.

Another example of releasing emotion, is one of sadness, continuous sorrow arousal can not only be exhausting physically, but mentally too, this emotional stress can quickly be agitated and eventually may turn into a depression. A healthy release for emotions such as this, but not limited to, is writing or expressing emotions through creative means.

I have come to find, that creative expression relieves the arousal of emotion and creates a tranquil and peaceful state. This also produces a thought provoking and intellectual stimulation with positive valences. Feelings of accomplishment and clarity are the results.

Below, are a few websites I have found to aid in expressing emotion, feel free to visit them and find the creative side of your own emotional genius