In counseling work, helping our patients understand the function of an emotion is important.
From a DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) perspective, there are 3 functions of an emotion.
1. It helps us to communicate with others without the need to say anything. It’s a very important part of non verbal communication.
2. It helps us to communicate with ourselves without the need for words or thoughts. It’s sensing…. Is this moving towards what matters to me/people I care about, or moving away from it. Are my needs of stability/connection/growth met? Am I in danger? Is this in line with who I am?
3. It helps us to take action. Emotions are like “fuel for action” like stepping on the gas pedal. Too little is an issue at times. Too much is an issue at times. And then it depends on which emotion and the context that we are in. Emotions can also affect our thinking and subsequent actions.
More emotions = more urge to act. Less emotions = less urge to act.
Too much = crash and burn or even freeze.
So patients have to learn how to “down regulate” and “up regulate” emotions and know which ones to “down regulate” and which ones to “up regulate” if they want to regulate holistically their emotions, motivations, and where they want to go in life.
Some medications try to “down regulate” their emotions. Some will “up regulate” their emotions. But knowing which ones to “up regulate” or “down regulate” will require counseling work in addition to medications.
We try to at times “down regulate” anxiety, frustration, shame and anger, and “up regulate” hope, faith, compassion for self/others, gratitude and acceptance. It is unlikely that medication alone is going to achieve that.
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