What do you do when you get stuck in your "emotional part of the brain?
Emotions can show up in both positive and negative ways. They can help us be inspired, motivated, and help us pursue what we desire with passion and intensity.
But emotions can also become an obstacle if they become overwhelming and hinder us from moving forward.
If you are suffering from emotional overload and it is preventing you from functioning properly, consider working with a well-qualified mental health practitioner who can do a proper diagnosis and develop a plan to help.
One of my clients, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, works with a therapist to deal with her broader mental health issues, but also works with me as an ADHD coach to help her deal with executive function challenges and to work towards her weekly and longer-term goals.
(For more information on ADHD & Executive Functioning, click here):
During one of our sessions, she realized that it was really helpful for her to visualize her emotions as luggage: the smaller ones were duffle bags, the larger ones had handles and were on wheels and so on.
As she identified what each one was, we "hoisted" them on a rack, so that she could attend to the task or project that we were discussing in a less emotional way, and move forward without self-judgement.
It really worked for her because she wasn't trying to ignore her emotions - she just acknowledged them and moved on!
This may or may not work for you, but the idea is that if you become aware of what's stopping you, call them out for what they are, and move them to the side with deliberation, there is a greater chance that you can move forward.
