TAM+ EP 104 Unlocking Emotions: How to Identify and Regulate Your Feelings in Recovery

Download: Identify And Regulate Worksheet

Have you ever felt a whirlwind of emotions but couldn't pin down exactly what you were feeling? You're not alone. Many people, especially those on the road to recovery, struggle to identify their emotions. This episode of "The Addicted Mind" podcast dives into the crucial skill of recognizing and naming our feelings.

Hosts Duane and Eric explore why pinpointing emotions is so important, especially for those battling addiction. They explain that many people used substances or behaviors to cope with overwhelming or confusing feelings. Learning to identify emotions is a key step in breaking free from destructive cycles.

The hosts introduce a practical tool: asking yourself specific questions to figure out which emotion you're experiencing. They walk through examples for emotions like fear, envy, anger, shame, and guilt. By answering these targeted questions, listeners can better understand their emotional state.

Duane and Eric stress that accurately identifying emotions is crucial for "checking the facts" – a method discussed in a previous episode. Once you know what you're feeling, you can examine if your emotional response fits the situation. This allows you to "adjust the volume" of your emotions – either dialing them up or down as needed.

The hosts share real-life examples of how this process has helped people. In one case, a client realized they were feeling shame rather than guilt, leading to a breakthrough in their healing journey.

Listeners are encouraged to practice this skill and to join a live "deep dive" session for more in-depth learning. The hosts also offer a downloadable worksheet to help listeners work through identifying different emotions on their own.

Download: Identify And Regulate Worksheet

Key Topics

• The importance of identifying specific emotions in recovery
• Using targeted questions to pinpoint emotions
• Examples of questions for fear, envy, anger, shame, and guilt
• How emotion identification connects to "checking the facts"
• Real-life impacts of accurately naming emotions
• Resources for further learning and practice

Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction and importance of emotion identification

2:43 - Connection to previous "Check the Facts" episode

5:43 - Exploring fear as an emotion

7:10 - Discussing envy and its complexities

8:05 - Examining anger and its various triggers

10:13 - Distinguishing between shame and guilt

13:43 - Closing thoughts and resources for listeners

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