I recently experienced my seemingly annual emotional breakdown. Life, stress, pressure, negative self-image, etc. boiled to a point in which I broke down in tears and begged for a retreat from social contact for a while. I do suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Though not officially diagnosed because I am too stubborn--and too poor--to seek professional counseling, I am well aware of the criteria required for a "label" to be attached to me. This is something I have battled since I was a teenager (that I am aware of) and I don't anticipate it being cured any time soon. I may post more about the actual disorder on my Misused Psychology Terms blog at a later time.
For now, the latest down swing got me thinking about all the negative emotions that society tells us are "bad" and improper. We are told that these emotions should be stamped down into nothingness and we should never let them see the light of day in front of others. Negative emotions are viewed with such negativity that they tend to spawn more negative emotions simply from their prescribed suppression. Sigmund Freud recognized the detrimental effects that extreme suppression and censure of natural human instincts and emotions can have on an individual. Many other psychological professionals today will tell you how too much denial of your basic emotions can lead to serious psychological disorders, especial anxiety and mood disorders.
Despite all this, though, society still demands that you keep your ugly, dirty, negative emotions as much to yourself as possible. Yes, there is such a thing as being too negative. There is also such a thing as being too positive (look up "mania"). We are designed for balance. When we forget that, swinging too much in one direction over the other, we open ourselves to social, emotional, and mental breakdowns that compound the situation. It is important to accept that you are human. Humans have a full spectrum of emotions, both positive and negative. You, as a human, are allowed to experience those emotions free from additional guilt and shame because you are human. When other people demand that you suppress your humanity they become extreme hypocrites who perpetuate an ironic cycle of downward spiraling judgement, guilt, anger, etc. that becomes more and more difficult to escape.
I plan to use my next few blog posts (I haven't determined how many there will be in the series) to explore the beneficial side to specific negative emotions. This is as much an intellectual exercise as a self-styled therapy derived from epiphanies I've experienced before, during, and after many of my SAD episodes. Feel free to interpret my insights in any way that will help you experience a more enriched emotional state. Also feel free to "challenge" me with a specific negative emotion that you believe might not have a beneficial side to it.
