Emotional Regulation: How to Feel Your Feelings Flexibly

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

Dr. Rick and Forrest discuss how we can regulate our emotions by feeling, managing, and processing them more effectively. They begin by unpacking common misconceptions and clarifying what healthy regulation looks like - feeling our feelings without being overwhelmed by them. From there, they walk through the three key steps of emotional regulation, focusing on practical tools like cognitive defusion and opposite action. Topics include interoception, the window of tolerance, cognitive bypassing, suppression/repression, and finding a balance between acceptance and agency.

Key Topics:

1:59: What Does Emotional Regulation Look Like?

6:08: The Three Aspects of Emotional Regulation

12:35: Step 1: Feeling Your Feelings

27:20: Step 2: Managing Your Feelings

58:50: Step 3: Processing (and maybe expressing) Your Feelings

1:10:10: Recap

Rick’s Course on Grief and Loss: Join Rick for his new, four-week long online program where you’ll soothe emotional pain, find perspective and meaning, and hold whatever happened with acceptance and compassion. Learn more at RickHanson.com/loss and use coupon code BeingWell25 to receive a 25% discount.

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