Do we control our emotions or do they control us? Unlike conscious feelings, emotions originate deep in the brain. For example, the brain can detect danger before we experience symptoms of being afraid.

One of the key ways of taking care of the mind is through the maturing of emotions. Emotions interact and motivate thinking, behavior and actions. They affect our physical bodies as much as our body affects our feelings and thinking. When we ignore, dismiss, repress or act out emotions, we unknowingly set ourselves up for physical illness.

The emotional system (limbic system) of the brain digests and metabolizes experiences. Emotions that are not felt and released can cause both physical and mental illness. The repeated experience and non expression of emotions such as fear, anxiety, negativity, frustration and depression cause chemical reactions in the body that are very different from the chemicals released when you feel positive emotions such as happy, content, loved, accepted.

Emotional development often requires a therapist or coach to guide your process.