Emotional Intelligence For Dummies®

Chapter 6. Managing Your Emotions

In This Chapter

• Exploring some coping mechanisms

• Getting the best out of a bad situation

• Controlling your emotions

Everyone has bad days — days when nothing seems to go right. From the moment you get out of bed, you feel that it's not going to be a good day. You might start off with a low-grade headache. You may hear some bad news from your radio alarm. Your partner might greet your awakening with some unnecessary or unwelcome comment or information.

When a day begins in this way, are you doomed for the rest of the day? Why even bother to get out of bed? Maybe you can hide somewhere for the next 24 hours — say, in front of a TV screen or computer. Although these options might sound possible at first, you really can't run away from the day. For all sorts of reasons, you have to face the rest of the day — or, at least, some portion of it. In this chapter, I show you some ways to try to navigate your way to a better destination — mentally, that is.

Okay, I Feel Sad, Mad, or Bad — Now What?

In Chapter 5, you see how to identify feelings that cause you problems. Generally speaking, you can break down these feelings into groups:

• Sad: Depressed

• Mad: Angry, jealous

• Bad: Anxious, fearful

Now, suppose that these negative feelings are severe enough to get in the way of your everyday level of functioning. The following sections provide some tools to help you regain your focus.

Warning

If your negative feelings are severe enough to require professional attention, call a ...