Do Negative Emotions Exist?

There is a viewpoint that we all have positive emotions such as love and joy and negative emotions such as anger, guilt and sadness.  Phrases such as ‘anger is one letter short of danger’ abound.  When someone finds themselves feeling tearful, people around them will often respond with ‘don’t cry’, don’t get upset’ or ‘be strong’.  There is a belief that giving into tears and having a cry will cause weakness and an inability to cope.

I take the view that we do not have positive or negative emotions, but simply emotions that are all important and are all part of who we are. 

When I think of creative performance, some of the greatest performances I believe are enabled by the writers, actors and comedians being in touch with these emotions.  Without these emotions these performances could lack depth and fail to resonate with us.

As in yin and yang, the positive and ‘negative’ emotions exist side by side and complement each other.

Perhaps the issue with emotions such as anger, guilt, jealousy, fear and the like, is that they seem to hold considerable power and begin to cause problems when they are in excess.  When we have lived through childhoods where those around us have made mistakes and we suppress the resulting emotions, and then continue to suppress them throughout our lives, they can build-up and affect our health, our relationships, our careers and the way in which we see the world.  The same applies to trauma from past lives. 

As examples of their effects, during challenging situations these suppressed emotions can cause explosions of anger or an inability to communicate at all. Alternatively, we can be so affected by anxiety that we limit our activities and interactions with others.  We can also experience unexplained physical symptoms such as pain, IBS and insomnia.  

When I work with clients I do so with the aim of allowing the release of the excesses of these emotions, rather than attempting to control or eradicate them.  What remains can then naturally integrate into a client’s healthy way of being. Intense rage can be commuted to annoyance on occasion or communication with passion, but the result that a client experiences is as unique as they are.  Physical symptoms can also be reduced or eliminated.

One of my clients had frequent arguments with her partner during which they screamed and shouted at each other.  It took only one Regression Therapy session for these arguments to end.  Following the session my client advised that she and her partner were getting on really well and talking issues over instead of screaming and shouting.  She also reported feeling more relaxed and open, both towards him and others.

In addition to improving our relationships, our health and everyday situations, the release of these excess emotions can bring about an increased positive flow in our lives.

Whenever I work on an emotional issue with a client, whether with Hypnotherapy or Regression Therapy, I take measurements on a scale of 1-10, of the main emotions, how often they occur and how long they last.  The progress of sessions can then be tracked.  I take the view that anything that is on the scale is excess.

Please contact me on 07973 767039 or at louisejamestherapies@gmail.com if you would like to know more.