Sad Day
I feel like it should be "normal" or okay to have a day or two where you can just feel your feelings 100%. Maybe even wallow in them for a day and then take a day to recover (emotional hangovers are legit). Personally I'm a very emotional person and I feel like I never get time to just sit in my feelings for a minute
Today I was having a moment where I just allowed myself to let it all out. I had my music up loud and thought I was fine to have an emotional release...then my 7 year old walked in asking if I was okay. I was embarrassed and ashamed. But I told her that I was just feeling a little sad and that it is okay to feel sad and sometimes crying helps us feel better. Then I told her I was now feeling much better and needed to take a shower.
@RainyDayJess
I agree that we're supposed to turn inwards and sit with uncomfortable feelings. I think a lot of us grow up learning that difficult feelings are negative and we end up judging, and shaming ourselves and in order to relieve ourselves we distract with our phones and endless external stimuli.
I once read that we can only feel the pleasant feelings of joy, and such, to the extent that we are able to feel the not-so-pleasant feelings. A lot of times we think that we can just skip the difficult emotions and experience the pleasant ones, and that isn't the case.
I think research says that emotions only take 60-90 seconds to go through, but we perpetuate the feeling by replaying the story in our heads and adding to it. However, I too sometimes like to wallow in sadness and allow myself to just go down that rabbit hole, and eventually emerge at a much more stable state. We have to stay mindful of not staying stuck there for too long.
P.S. I love what you said to your daughter!
@RainyDayJess
This is the first time I've heard of emotional hangovers, and how true! Recovery is no joke!
I agree that it's so important to allow ourselves the space to just FEEL instead of SUPRESSING. Music is such a great outlet.
I have littles ones too and find myself navigating those discussions.
