Learn three helpful techniques to manage and reduce emotional overwhelm, including temperature regulation, intense aerobic exercise, and relaxation exercises. Discover the technique of progressive muscle relaxation for reducing emotional overwhelm and find meditation apps that can guide you through this practice.
Tip skills are a set of skills that target the body's chemistry to reduce feelings of overwhelm and high emotional arousal, providing a quick and easy way to regulate emotions and think clearly.
The first tip skill involves temperature regulation through submerging the face in cold water or using cold packs on the face to activate the dive reflex, which rapidly reduces physiological and emotional arousal, making it a useful technique for managing distressing emotions and strong urges.
Deep dives
Tip skills to reduce emotional arousal
Tip skills are a set of skills that target the body's chemistry to reduce feelings of overwhelm and high emotional arousal. These skills work quickly, often within seconds to minutes, and are easy to use. They are designed to bring down emotional arousal so that individuals can think clearly and solve problems. These skills are particularly useful when near a breakdown point, during a crisis, when unable to process information correctly, caught up in an emotion, or overwhelmed to think clearly. It's important to note that tip skills are not meant to solve problems but rather to regulate emotions.
Tipping the temperature for emotional regulation
The first tip skill is temperature regulation. By submerging the face in cold water or placing cold packs on the face while holding the breath, individuals can engage the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce physiological and emotional arousal rapidly. This technique activates the human dive reflex, slowing the heart rate and redirecting blood flow to the brain and heart. It is helpful for managing distressing emotions, strong urges, and when facing dangerous or destructive behaviors. Dipping the face in cold water or using cold packs over the eyes and upper cheeks are common methods to initiate the diving response.
Intense exercise and controlled breathing for emotional regulation
The second tip skill involves intense aerobic exercise for 20 to 30 minutes. Engaging in any kind of intense exercise can have a rapid effect on mood, decreasing negative moods and rumination, and increasing positive moods. The level of intensity should be based on individual fitness levels, aiming to reach 70% of the maximum heart rate. Exercise is beneficial for managing nonstop rumination, extreme agitation, anger, or when a mood boost is needed. Controlled breathing, known as paced breathing, can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Slowing down the breathing to 5 to 6 breaths per minute can reduce emotional arousal. Techniques like 4-7-8 breathing, where individuals inhale for 4 seconds, hold their breath for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds, can be effective. Progressive muscle relaxation, that involves tensing and releasing different muscle groups, can be paired with paced breathing to increase awareness of stress and relaxation in the body.
Do you often feel anxiety or other negative emotions in your body? Today, the Savvy Psychologist talks about three skills that can keep you from reaching your tipping point.
Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. A transcript is available at Simplecast.