Why Your Emotional Wellness Matters More Than You Think

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A person’s well-being comprises various aspects, from physical to mental and spiritual. Emotional wellness is also a crucial part of conversation. Most people discredit its importance, but exhaustion in this part of life can push you to the brink. It’s essential to recognize what good emotional health is like and to protect it at all costs. 

What Is Emotional Wellness?

Emotional wellness is the capacity to manage one’s feelings over time. It’s slightly different from mental health, which focuses more on stimulating your mind. They both have similar reactions to psychological stress, but emotional health leans more toward your mood. Mental health is more about rational thinking and clarity.

Emotional wellness is often confused with spiritual health too, though they are two different aspects of well-being. The latter involves finding meaning in existence and having a higher purpose. Think of mental wellness as the brain, emotional wellness as the heart and spiritual wellness as the soul. 

Emotional Wellness Examples

To have a more accurate look at what emotional wellness is like, here are a few examples you can reference:

• Experiencing positive emotions: Emotional wellness means fully relishing the positive feelings you experience. Joy, excitement, and inspiration fill your mind. You also get to appreciate even the smallest things and stay optimistic for a long time. 

• Managing negative emotions: Life is full of highs and lows. Being emotionally sound means facing the negativity inside you. Regulate sadness, fear or anger and make sure you’re still in control. You also make sure you don’t feel worse.

• Understanding people’s feelings: People with good emotional well-being are very attuned to themselves and others. You can gauge how others feel and empathize with them in social situations. 

• Sharing your emotions: Some people think emotional wellness is keeping their feelings to themselves, but they are meant to be shared with other people. Talk about them with the people you feel safe with.

• Recognizing when to rest and relax: Everyone’s emotional battery drains after many stressful situations. Before getting drained, recognize when you’ve hit that point and take the initiative to rest your heart. 

Why Your Emotional Well-being Matters

Positive and negative emotions are a natural part of life. However, many factors may bring more animosity. Emotional exhaustion is a genuine condition with many consequences to it. For example, some people feel depleted and uneasy. About 40 million Americans experience anxiety symptoms, which manifest into physical and mental troubles.

The worst part of emotional exhaustion is not being able to feel anything at all. It casts a grey outlook onto life and makes you feel like you’re living in a bubble, isolated from everyone else. Emotional burnout is hard to struggle with, so you need to learn to protect your peace as much as possible. 

Dangers of Emotional Exhaustion

Emotional wellness is influenced by many factors, including your relationship, personal life, and work. Here are the dangers you need to avoid to protect your peace. 

1. Narcissist Partners

A romantic partnership is about empathizing and holding each other in high regard. Narcissists are often detached as they have a strong sense of self-importance. As they put themselves and their needs first, their partners may feel unfulfilled. Narcissists also tend to criticize and gaslight other people to validate their side of the story. 

2. High-Pressure Jobs

Going to your job is necessary to support yourself and your passions. It’s understandable to face challenges along the way, but there are just high-pressure workplaces full of negativity day in and day out. About 56% of American workers felt disrespected at work and decided to resign. Some may put up with it because of the pay. 

3. Family Arguments

Your family is one of the people you could lean on when things get hard. Unfortunately, those bonds make you more sensitive to arguments. It’s even more exhausting when those fights happen and you live in the same household. When your loved one becomes negative, you tend to absorb similar emotions. 

4. Toxic Friendships

Toxic friendships also negatively affect your emotional state. These people have no respect for your boundaries. When you get wins, they may extend their jealousy or downplay your successes. When you’re sad, they simply disappear right away. There’s a certain power imbalance that makes you question your own emotions.

5. Social Media

Social media is a great mood booster with its funny memes and cat videos sometimes. However, there are also downsides to it. For instance, connecting with peers online is a little less emotionally fulfilling than meeting in person. Doomscrolling through many sad real-life news can also bring plenty of emotional stress.

Other Ways to Protect Your Emotional Well-being

Recognizing the importance of your emotional wellness and what factors threaten it is the first step of protection. Here are other ways to secure this aspect of your health:

• Find the right people: Your emotional wellness is highly influenced by the people you surround yourself with. Make sure you’re with people who trust you. They should also respect your feelings and boundaries. 

• Explore healthy coping mechanisms: Negative emotions can consume you when they pile up. Learn to release them through healthy coping mechanisms. Some people journal to track their mood and let out their thoughts. 

• Avoid chasing happiness: So many people force circumstances to chase happiness and escape negativity. However, there’s a difference between healthy and unhealthy stress. Enjoy joy as it passes you and accept when you can’t find it now. 

• Regulate exposure to stress: Even with healthy forms of emotional stress, you still want to regulate how much you’re exposed to. Learn to say no to certain outings or end conversations when they feel too exhausting. 

• Practice mindfulness: Some people repress their emotions and disassociate from the present moment. Mindfulness techniques like breathing and meditation make you more self-aware of current feelings, which helps with emotional processing.

Prioritize Your Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness is often overlooked, but it should be at the forefront of your physical and mental well-being. Identify signs of exhaustion and hold them as much as possible at a distance. Learn to protect yourself and your emotions for better quality of life.