When you suffer negative emotions and their accompanying negative thoughts, or uncomfortable tension, it is usually very difficult, or virtually impossible to shift them in order to return to a state of balance and a feeling of well-being – even when you use strategies of distraction or detachment. Both positive and negative emotions are key and act as important information markers regarding hungers tied to desires expressed as, “what I want or do not want” and “what I like or do not like.” But, for the suffering person, the exclusive focus tends toward the intense negative emotions, together with the accompanying ruminating, worrying, negative memories and negative future anticipations. (Bechara, 2004; Michl, L., et al 2013). Thus, instead of being able to act, so as to mindfully achieve metabolic self-regulation, the suffering person experiences helplessness. Unable to efficaciously fulfill their hungers and unable to settle the body-in-distress, they either find themselves in the therapy room or are doomed to endure both their hungers and the accompanying negative emotions, often with no recourse to beneficial solutions. Attending to the body in distress enables a return to efficient functioning of executive functions and has implications for decision-making and finding advantageous solutions, while additional attendance to hungers initiates and facilitates neural changes (Damasio, 1994; Bechara et al, 2004), which is essential if a shift towards less intense and less frequent negative emotions is to be successful over time.
Following on from this, Damasio (1994) notes, “Achieving survival coincides with the ultimate reduction of unpleasant body states and the attaining of homeostatic ones, i.e., functionally balanced biological states. The internal preference system is inherently biased to avoid pain, seek potential pleasure, and is probably pretuned for achieving these goals in social situations.”
To learn more, contact Leslie Zimmermann on 083 384 9812 for an appointment.
Leslie Zimmermann is a Jungian Analyst trained in the philosophy and psychology of C.G. Jung in Zürich and is based in Johannesburg. She offers a range of services, which she integrates, to meet the needs and aspirations of people. In a word, her work is in the service of wholeness. Wholeness includes both our vulnerabilities and our strengths, becoming conscious of our own unique mix of these, honoring our own unique way of functioning and with this knowledge and confidence, contributing as only we each can in our own way, to this evolving world we find ourselves to be a part of.
Besides having a Diplomate qualification in Analytical psychology, which qualifies me to write about the theory and practice of dream interpretation, I also have an Honours degree in Applied Psychology and a Masters degree in Research psychology, which qualify me to write about theories of human development, personality, abnormal psychology, social psychology, sociology and ethics. Also, theories and knowledge pertaining to sleep and dreams from a perspective of neuropsychological and biological systems.
Leslie specializes in Analytical Psychology, Voice Dialogue, Life Coaching solutions for business executives. Consulting and coaching for family owned and home-based business
For an appointment Leslie Zimmermann can be contacted on:
Email: leslie.zimmermann@gmail.com
Mobile: +27 (0)83 384 9812
Member: SAPC (South African Psychoanalytic Confederation); SAAJA (Southern African Association of Jungian Analysts); IAAP (International Association for Analytical Psychology); International Association for the Study of Dreams