What Is Emotional Regulation—and How Do You Recognize It?
When we live in the future, we have two options: a life that would be described as a life of trust or a life of fear.
You send a message to a friend and don’t get a response. If you’re relying solely on automatic thinking, you might assume they’re ignoring you or that you’ve somehow upset them. Your mood drops, and you might even withdraw from future interactions.
We navigate the world through three primary states of mind: Emotion Mind, Reason Mind, and Wise Mind. These states shape how we interpret our experiences and respond to the situations we face each day. Think of these states as existing on a continuum. At one end, we have an Emotion Mind, driven by feelings and impulses, and at the other, Reason Mind, guided by logic and facts. In the middle is Wise Mind—a balance of both, where emotion and reason come together to help us see clearly and act intentionally. Picture this: You’re sitting at your desk when you get an email from your boss asking to schedule a one-on-one meeting. Immediately, your emotions take over, and your mind spirals into a storm of assumptions. You jump to the conclusion that you’re about to be fired and start imagining worst-case scenarios. You even consider showing up to the meeting with your desk already packed.
This holiday season, instead of striving for a Pinterest-perfect tablescape, a chef-inspired turkey, or the ideal of a drama-free family gathering, consider embracing an idea that’s already central to the holiday — gratitude.
From Dr. Frock’s Desk is a series of interviews where we engage with The Happy Hour’s Medical Director, Dr. Frock, to explore a psychiatrist’s insights, stories, and practical tools on a range of topics. From Dr. Frock’s Desk is a series of interviews where we engage with The Happy Hour’s Medical Director, Dr. Frock, to explore a psychiatrist’s insights, stories, and practical tools on a range of topics. In this edition, we are talking about having a better holiday experience: how to navigate the stress that this time can bring.
Belly-to-chest breathwork promotes deep, diaphragmatic breathing that helps reduce stress, enhance relaxation, and improve oxygen flow throughout the body.
Elections can be a time of excitement, hope, and anticipation—but for many, they also bring stress, anxiety, and even fear. The high-stakes nature of voting, constant media coverage, and heated debates can take a toll on mental well-being. If you're feeling overwhelmed during election season, you're not alone. While many of us wish we could play ostrich and bury our heads in the sand until election season concludes, we have to find a way to carry on while not allowing the political environment get the best of us. So how do we do that?
It's common to fall into negative thinking patterns, especially during times of heightened anxiety. Below is a list of familiar negative thinking patterns, along with alternative perspectives that challenge them and opportunities to practice for yourself.
Learn what happens when you compare yourselves to others, and how comparison can be used for good. “If comparison is the thief of joy,” as eloquently stated by President Theodore Roosevelt, why do we continue to measure ourselves against others? Unhealthy comparison is a common issue among many people, even us professionals. This tool will shed some light on:
Learn why managing stress is crucial to maintaining overall health, and how mindfulness practices can reduce stress. Audiocast included.
This is a powerful time management tool that helps you prioritize, and reduce overwhelm. Audiocast included. The Eisenhower Matrix is a powerful time management tool that helps prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. In this tool and audiocast, we explain how to use it quickly and effectively on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis with the added bonus of integrating mindfulness into your decision-making process.
Learn how to combat anticipatory anxiety, which can frequently show up as your weekend comes to a close. Audiocast included.