What are emotions?

Perhaps you have noticed that when something happens around you, it is immediately reflected inside you as an emotional expression of the body.

When something suddenly startles us, we immediately feel in our body feelings of fear, anxiety, and feel our muscles tighten to prepare for a corresponding reaction. Or you witness something very sad that darkens your thoughts for the next few hours and you feel a heaviness in your chest and a tight stomach.

This is because man is a complex organism that constantly interacts with the world around him. Emotions are the body's natural expression that shows how a certain situation or event affects us. Through them we understand whether what we encounter brings us security or threatens us. Based on our emotions, we build our thoughts in different directions, create our understanding of the world, which also determines our actions. In turn, our actions also reflect how we feel and what thoughts arise in us.

The basic emotions are: joy, fear, anger, sadness, disgust, love, surprise and contempt.

There is no right way to feel about a given situation because each person is unique and the way they react to it is strictly individual.

All feelings are important, whether positive or negative.

If we learn to recognize the reactions of our body according to the emotions we feel, we will have the opportunity to learn not to act hastily, to better understand ourselves and those around us, and to find explanations for why people or we we ourselves behave in a particular way.

You can't choose your emotions, but you can learn how to express them in a way that is helpful to you and acceptable to others.

If something is causing you strong emotions in some way and you are finding it difficult to understand, express or control your feelings, seek anonymous counseling from a professional.

Contact the NATIONAL TELEPHONE LINE FOR CHILDREN by dialing 116 111. We will listen and support you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

 

Self harm

Have you noticed that some young children pull their hair, scratch their nails or bang their head against the wall in response to a mistake or failure to deal with a situation? You may have noticed that wounds are visible under the long sleeves of your classmate. It is possible that you yourself have a tendency to self-harm...

Self-injury is a form of aggression directed at oneself. While in childhood it does not seem so dangerous, during the teenage years it is observed in more serious forms - cuts on the body, burning of the skin, etc.

You must be wondering why someone would do this to themselves, and that quite consciously and voluntarily. For others, this behavior is completely incomprehensible and perhaps frightening. Assumptions immediately arise that the person who self-harms suffers from a mental illness, is seeking attention, or is trying to manipulate others with it.

In fact, auto-aggression is an unhealthy way to express, control and temporarily relieve painful feelings, thoughts and memories. It is accompanied by momentary experiences of calmness and release of tension and is followed by feelings of guilt and shame. It is usually done in private, in secret from others, and escalates over time, reaching a fatal level. This is because after each time the self-injurer feels the need to experience one degree more pain in order to relieve their emotional distress.

Therefore, if you notice evidence that your friend or classmate is self-harming, or you yourself are in the position of the self-harmer - seek help, do not hesitate! You can share with the school psychologist, your GP, a social worker or an adult you trust.

You can also contact the NATIONAL TELEPHONE LINE FOR CHILDREN by dialing 116 111. Don't delay! We will listen and support you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

 

Suicidal thoughts

Sometimes things happen in our lives that make us feel desperate and helpless. Situations that seem unsolvable to us. Events that make us lose hope and sometimes the will to live. In these moments, the idea of suicide can creep into our thoughts and even take over them. However, these thoughts show that our lives need to change, not end.

The first and most important thing to realize is that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Putting it off over time can help. For example, tell yourself that you will wait until tonight, and in the evening postpone your decision until the next morning. If it's too hard for you, put it off hour by hour.

In the meantime, don't focus on the problem. Force yourself not to think about him at least temporarily - take a warm shower, put on a funny show, make yourself some tea, eat some fruit, go for a run or engage in some other exercise. Engage your attention with something that is relaxing, refreshing and enjoyable to you.

Do not resort to the use of alcohol or other substances. Not only will this not solve your problem, it will even deepen your suffering.

If you already have a plan on exactly how to end your life, then do not proceed with procuring the necessary means. If you already have them available, remove them from your home or at least move them away from you, to a place that requires extra effort to get them.

Yes, life is not always easy, but keep telling yourself that things usually get worse before they get better, and that every difficulty is surmountable.

Think about how a suicide attempt would affect those who love and care about you—your friends, parents, grandparents, and even your pet.

Also think about the things that are important in your life and those that make you feel good - make a list of them or draw them!

Try to think of something you can do to help others and do it. Also think about the things you would like AND STILL CAN achieve in the future - visit an exotic country, take up tennis or become an architect.

And the most important! If you feel at a dead end and the only way out of it is death, SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY! Confide in someone - a friend, teacher, parent, psychologist. Be completely honest! IF YOUR CONDITION IS CRITICAL, DO NOT DELAY - CONTACT THE POLICE BY DIALING 112.

Do not hesitate to contact the NATIONAL TELEPHONE LINE FOR CHILDREN by dialing 116 111 at any time of the day. We will listen to you and together we will find a solution to your problem. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!