Page 91 - EAP Manual

Emotion Regulation OPPOSITE TO EMOTION
Opposite to Emotion (O2E)—Change feelings by doing something different or acting opposite to the current feeling
Feelings love themselves. This means that when I am feeling a certain way, I will have thoughts, urges, & behaviors that keep that feeling around.
Remember talking about mood congruency and doing things that feelings want us to do??? For example, loud depression wants me to watch a sad movie in my dark bedroom—alone. Sound familiar?
Acting Opposite to Emotion helps me:
- break out of a feeling
- feel something different or new
Acting Opposite to Emotion is NOT:
- participating in a feeling
- doing things to entertain it & keep it around
Let’s look at some feelings and what they want you to do. Then, let’s look at what O2E will have me do instead...
DEPRESSION
What do I feel like doing? How can I use O2E?
How can I act Opposite to Depression?
Isolating Withdrawing Crying
Hiding
Sleeping
Being passive Watch sad movies
Get active—move
Get social—be around people Approach
Do Build Mastery activities Watch funny YouTube videos
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