>>12139380i don't have all the answers, but i have some
don't suppress your emotions. don't discard any of them. identify them, name them, discern their origin.
something we've lost along the way is purpose. we evolved the emotions we have because they were necessary. grief, sympathy, and pity ostensibly allowed us to make the best of tragedy and loss, giving us an opportunity to bond and strengthen our community rather than simply lose and be lessened. something similar can be said of everything you feel. none of these feelings ought be thought of as "negative" nor "positive", as they all serve purpose, and we require them all to function.
take anger, perhaps the clearest example.
today, anger isn't always immediately useful. in the past, a burst of adrenaline and rage would've motivated you to hit that bear just a bit harder. it may have made the difference between life and death. today, road rage doesn't serve any readily apparent purpose. you're just stuck in traffic, and you're pissed, and that moron won't stop honking and your chimp brain demands you honk back ineffectually.
but to discard it is to disservice yourself. there's a wealth of productive energy within each of them that you can manipulate, if only you listen carefully. you're stuck in traffic. why? your commute sucks. why? your job is too far away. why?
anger gives you the energy to change this situation, and many others. hold onto it and redirect it towards the core of your problem. apply to a closer position, or investigate closer housing options. let anger be your fuel, until the problem is as dust in your wake.
a great deal of mental health is simply managing your emotional state, productively applying your emotional energy. i can't walk you through everything, but if you keep those principles in mind, you'll work the rest out yourself. identify, investigate, direct. don't be an idiot and bottle.
