Experience Peace
A sense of peace is an internal experience. Unfortunately, it cannot be meaningfully improved simply through serene environments, exercise or relaxing rituals. Rather, inner peace is a consequence: It is one of the many rewards of having achieved psychological strength and emotional stability.
- Do you wish you could enjoy a more consistent sense of calm and tranquility?
- Do you often rely on drugs or alcohol to relax or reduce overwhelming feelings?
- Do you “overthink” things?
- Do you have difficulty sleeping?
- Have you tried exercise, yoga, meditation, spiritual practices, or other means of calming the mind, but notice that they work for a bit, but fail to create sustainable, lasting change?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your experience may be related to problems regulating your emotions.
Emotion regulation is the capacity to experience a full spectrum of emotions without feeling overwhelmed, losing control or acting out in impulsive or unproductive ways.
Emotion regulation is fundamental to a sense of stability and wellbeing. Difficulty with it can make life feel more chaotic and less manageable. It is virtually impossible to feel a sense of peace when your emotions could take over at any time.
Dr. Agree addresses emotion regulation from multiple perspectives, both indirect and direct. She believes the more tools you have to help you acquire this vital skill, the better.
Some of these skills are simple, such as identifying and labeling feelings, meditating and journaling. Others are more sophisticated and individualized, including learning to mentalize. Part of your work with Dr. Agree will be to discover the methods of emotion regulation that work best for you.
If regulating your emotions is difficult, you may find the app called Breathe, by Stop, Breathe & Think, helpful.