Emotional Distress...

Emotional Distress defined means a highly unpleasant emotional reaction (such as anguish, humiliation, or fury) which results from another's conduct. (Merriam Webster)
Have you ever experienced emotional distress? I'm thinking the answer to that is a big Yes! Has anyone you loved ever humiliated or hurt you deeply? What about fury? Fury is a very strong emotional response. and some of us have even experienced this. One sad fact about emotional distress is that when its not addressed and under control it can cause physical pain. 

You can't put a band-aid on emotional distress. It has to be confronted, you need to allow yourself to cry, MAKE space for the loss/distress, and learn ways to self-soothe. HONOR YOUR PAIN.

A classic way that emotional distress invades our lives is when we experience grief. Grief doesn't just occur when your are experiencing bereavement (loss of a person). You can grieve the loss of a friendship, a pet, the loss of a job, and especially romantic relationships. 

Conventional methods focus on the stressor itself, using evidence-based approaches to either removing or coming to terms with the stressful situation. When you come to terms with the emotional distress you will be practicing Radical Acceptance. Oh boy... Radical Acceptance. I learned about this hard skill during my Intensive Outpatient Program last fall. Radical Acceptance means just accept things as they  are, you can't change a thing, so accept things as they are. ugh! so hard to do right! I've found some ways to help cope to get you to Radical Acceptance.

Ways To Cope With Emotional Distress 

1. Practice Mindfulness
2. Distraction
3. Seek out a family member or friend to talk with
4. Try Therapy