Myths About Emotions

There are a lot of myths about emotions. This is true not just for those of us with borderline symptoms, but in our whole society. Take a look at ER Handout 2 on page 136. This page lists ten myths about emotions. 

For example, look at number 6: "Emotions are really stupid."
Do you think this is true? Of course not. It may feel that way sometimes, but emotions are there for a reason.

What challenging statement could you write for "Emotions are really stupid."
Maybe "Emotions help us to deal with our lives," or "Emotions are there for a reason," "or "Everyone has emotions."


There is a theory about emotions:

  • There are only a few basic emotions: anger, sorrow, joy, surprise, fear, disgust, guilt/shame, interest. All of the others are learned, and are usually some combination of the basic emotions.
  • Emotions come and go, like waves.
  • Emotions are self-perpetuating. Once an emotions starts, it keeps restarting itself. I once heard a DBT moderator say, “Emotions like themselves. They want to live on forever.”

    • I invite you to work through this page, writing a challenge, a more realistic view or an opposite answer or whatever you feel is a true answer to each question. For numbers 11-16, your challenge is to write both a myth and a challenge. Think of something that people say about emotions or that you've heard someone say when somebody is emotional.


     

    Exercise

    Examples: "Emotions are for babies."
             "If I had the right feelings, I wouldn't have so much trouble."
             "If I had no feelings, I wouldn't have so much trouble."
             "Only good feelings are okay."