It is good to be aware of our emotions. Emotions provide us with important information—even negative and painful emotions are helpful. Feelings such as guilt, anger and resentment contain important messages. We need to learn from them and then take appropriate action.
We need to be careful not to let our emotions control us.
For example, when you cannot enjoy activities you previously enjoyed, and your emotional pain overshadows all pleasure, these feelings are characteristic of depression. If you’re experiencing this, you might want to seek mental health help to help yourself feel better. Speaking with your physician is generally a good first step.
Caregiving often involves a range of emotions.
Some feelings are more comfortable than others.
When you find that your emotions are intense, it might mean that:
- You need to make a change in your caregiving situation
- You are grieving a loss
- You are experiencing increased stress
- You need to be assertive and ask for what you need