Feelings Are Not Facts: A Psychiatrist's Perspective

By Brittany Albright MD, MPH

Understand that feelings are essential but they are not facts.

Ask yourself:

-What is causing my feelings?

-Do my feelings accurately reflect the reality of the situation I am in?
-Will my feelings change the situation in any way?
-Am I choosing to be stressed?
-Can you choose a different mental paradigm? (Hint - you can!)

As a psychiatrist, I often encounter individuals who are deeply enmeshed in their emotions, sometimes to the point where their feelings dictate their perception of reality and certainly, their behaviors. It's crucial to understand that while feelings are valid and significant, they are not facts. This distinction is vital for mental health and well-being.

Understanding Emotions:

Emotions are complex responses to our experiences and environment. They are essential and they always serve a purpose. They can be influenced by a myriad of factors, including past experiences, cultural norms, and biological predispositions. However, emotions are subjective. They represent our personal interpretation or reaction to a situation, not the situation itself.

The Trap of Emotional Reasoning:

Emotional reasoning is a cognitive distortion where individuals believe that what they feel must be true. For instance, feeling anxious about a presentation might lead one to think they are incompetent. This is a classic example of confusing feelings with facts. Just because we feel something strongly doesn’t make it an objective reality.

Feelings as Signals, Not Directives:

It's important to view emotions as signals, not directives. They can alert us to our needs, desires, and things we might need to address. However, acting solely based on emotions without considering the broader context can lead to impulsive and often regrettable decisions.

The Role of Rational Thinking:

Balancing emotions with rational thought is key. It's about acknowledging your feelings while also questioning and examining them. Ask yourself: Is there evidence for what I'm feeling? Are there alternative explanations? This process can help in separating emotional reactions from factual assessments.

Emotional Regulation Strategies:

Learning emotional regulation techniques is essential. Mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and stress-reduction techniques can help individuals manage their emotional responses and distinguish between feelings and facts.

Emotions in Therapy:

In therapy, we explore emotions to understand their roots and how they impact behavior. However, a significant part of therapeutic work involves teaching individuals to critically evaluate their emotions and not let them dictate their perception of reality.

The Danger of Ignoring Emotions:

It's also crucial not to swing to the other extreme and ignore emotions. They are a vital part of our human experience. The goal is not to suppress emotions but to understand and integrate them healthily. It is always healthy to allow yourself to feel your emotions and to express your emotions in a safe, validating place.

Conclusion:

Feelings are an integral part of the human experience, offering richness and depth to our lives. However, they are not infallible indicators of reality. Learning to distinguish feelings from facts is a crucial skill in developing emotional intelligence and maintaining mental health. As we navigate our emotional landscapes, let's remember this mantra: validate, but verify.

We encourage you to have a different and more mindful perspective, a different approach to how you respond to stress. You are free to choose how you react to the stimulus instead of being a victim and simply just reacting to your environment. You are free to question assumptions, analyze resources, problem solve, and strategize. Your life can and should be dictated by you. You can choose to react differently to stress. You don’t have to be a victim anymore. We want to teach you about proactive coping, stress reduction, and living a principle-centered life.

Call Sweetgrass Psychiatry, located in Mount Pleasant, SC, at 843-800-1303 for mindfulness based therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy today to have assistance in shifting your perspective. You are worth it.