Controlling Emotions 1

Controlling Emotions

Tim Wick

English 122 C!2 C02

In an ever changing world people are constantly looking for ways to help control their

emotions. Whether its drugs and alcohol or prescription drugs, a big part of the US population

seems to be in an altered state. There are difficult and stressful situations that everyone must

learn to deal with, but when doctors are prescribing psychotropic drugs way to often it can easily

lead to more problems. People use way too many unhealthy ways to affect their emotions, when

there are many other safer and more effective ways. Yoga and meditation are great natural ways

to relieve stress and keep your emotions in balance. The possibilities are nearly limitless when

more people are not affected by drugs to control their emotions and work in balance and

harmony. Think of a workplace without any hate, anger, or jealousy. More people are starting to

effectively control their emotions with healthy ways.

I was able to get an email interview with an expert in the field of psychotropic drugs, and

learn some valuable first hand information into the ways we can control emotions. Dr. David

Kern runs a private practice for psychotropic medication management for all ages. Psychotropic

medication is: “Any medication capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and

behavior.”(MedicineNet) He is also a Psychiatrist with Compass Colorado and working part-time

at Highlands Behavioral Health System. I understand with certain medical conditions like

Psychosis, there are not a lot of treatments. Most of the time prescription drugs are the best way
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to control the symptoms. I asked Dr. Kern a number of questions that pertain to emotions in

general. My first question was “What kind of negative effects could these types of medications

be responsible for? Dr. Kern said “There is a wide range of side effects, depending on the dosage

and medication.” I understand Dr. Kern prescribes a large number of drugs that effect emotions

in a major way. Every diagnosis is different and medicine affects people differently. There are

several people I know personally that are prescribed psychotropic medications for conditions like

depression and anxiety. Sometimes people reach for the most convenient and readily available

solution to their problems. The US population is continuously getting bombarded with

advertisements on TV and in magazines.

Recently there seems to be a surge in the rate that we prescribe mood altering drugs. A

study conducted by Brandeis University for the Journal Psychiatric Services shows a disturbing

trend. Psychotropic Drug Prescriptions for teens Surge 250% Over 7 Year Period. This was a

time when the Government first allowed direct to consumer advertising and looser promotion of

off label use of prescription drugs. The study also noted that overall, pharmaceutical companies

increased their spending on television advertising six fold, to $1.5 billion, between 1996 and

2000(Brandeis University) Also, the study shows that by 2001, one in every ten of all office

visits by teenage boys led to a prescription for a psychotropic drug. Other findings in the study

suggest, between 14 and 26 percent of visits in which psychotropic medications were prescribed

did not have an associated mental health diagnosis, said lead author Professor Cindy Parks. Its

clear there is big money to be made in the production, advertising, and prescribing of these

Drugs. Psychotropic drugs are prescribed way too often and are usually the most dangerous
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prescription drugs. Many categories of psychiatric drugs can cause potentially horrendous

reactions. Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Adderall, Ritalin, Xanax, lithium, Zyprexa and other psychiatric

medications may spellbind patients into believing they are improved when too often they are

becoming worse(Breggin) Psychiatric drugs drive some people into psychosis, mania,

depression, suicide, agitation, compulsive violence and loss of self-control without the

individuals realizing that their medications have deformed their way of thinking and feeling.

You can’t watch TV for an hour without seeing an advertisement for a law firm fishing

for “victims of the pharmaceutical industry”. There is a driving force to educate people about

how dangerous prescription drugs can be. Peter Breggin is a leader in the movement a former

staffer at the National Institute of Mental Health who has testified in liability suits against

pharmaceutical companies. Breggin is a big part of a quickly growing group of experts who

argue that the FDA is ‘more interested in serving the drug companies than consumers,’ simply

relying on doctored or incomplete evidence and botched tests. In his most recent book

Medication Madness, Breggin examines how the FDA, the medical establishment and the

Pharmaceutical industry has over-sold the value of psychiatric drugs. It serves as a cautionary

tale about our reliance on potentially dangerous psychoactive chemicals to relieve our emotional

problems and provides a positive approach to taking personal charge of our lives.

There are many things that can influence what emotions we have and how intense they

can be. The limbic system controls emotions and memory. Alcohol and recreational drugs affect

the limbic system and intensify whatever emotion we are feeling. If you are angry and then get

drunk, your anger will intensify. On the other side if you are happy and joyful, those same
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emotions become more apparent and vibrant. Notice how we always drink for special occasions

such as wedding, birthdays, and holidays. They want those emotions to be more intense. People

may think alcohol helps them to cope with difficult situations and emotions, to reduce stress or

relieve anxiety, but alcohol is in fact associated with a range of mental health problems including

depression, anxiety and, personality disorders. Alcohol has also been linked to suicide. The

Mental Health Foundation reports that, 65% of suicides have been linked to excessive drinking

and almost one third of suicides among young people take place while the person is intoxicated

(Public Health Agency) There isn’t anything wrong with having some drinks and enjoying a fun

night out. Problems arise from excessive drinking and unstable emotions from the person

drinking.

Mental health problems are also common in people who use marijuana. Marijuana

impairs emotions, when smoking marijuana, the user may have uncontrollable laughter

one minute and paranoia the next. This instant change in emotions has to do with the way

that THC affects the brain's limbic system. A lot of people smoke marijuana to get in a

better mood, but when you are high your reasoning process is shut off and during this

artificial messing around with our brain, feelings get repressed or buried. Sometimes this

may temporarily feel like an improvement, but meanwhile we have lost the ability to act

based on our emotions.

Weed is a canvas over your emotions. As time passes, users lose the ability to react and

respond
to feelings, surroundings and life in general (Gilburt) Heavy use of marijuana leads to depression

and apathy and no clear emotions results in little or no motivation. In some situations this might

Controlling Emotions 5

be helpful. But those emotions and feelings don’t just go away; they remain inside our bodies

until they are released in sometimes really weird and unusual ways. With all the ways we can

alter and affect our emotions, a lot of people aren’t showing their true and normal behavior.

Alcohol and Recreational drugs should not be a way to control your emotions or escape from

them. People have a lot more control of their emotions then they give themselves credit for.

Whether its prescription drugs, alcohol, and recreational drugs people are always looking for

ways to escape or reduce their emotion. There are safer and more effective methods for

balancing emotions.

Through counseling and communication many people are able to control their emotions

more efficiently. The more you recognize your emotions and what affects them, it becomes

easier to control. We all know it’s not healthy to hold anything in, especially emotions. That’s

why therapy sessions where a patient can release any built up emotions safely and without

judgment is very helpful for some At times, everyone feels stressed-out, depressed, angry,

anxious, or confused. Sometimes these problems gradually go away on their own or they get

better with the support of our friends and family. However, there are other times when these

problems can cause major disruptions in our lives and/or they are too difficult to talk about with

our family and friends. Counseling is a process where a trained professional helps someone deal

with problems related to personal, social, academic, and career concerns. Sometimes this kind of

therapy can be the most beneficial. Improved self esteem and communication with others are just

some benefits of having someone listen to your concerns with care and respect. You can
understand how unhelpful patterns and cycles are negatively affecting your life and learn new

ways to deal with your concerns (Marymount) Our happiness, peace of mind, well-being, and

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fulfillment are affected by a great degree from our ability to communicate. The better we can

communicate with other people, the more enjoyable our life will be. We will have greater

success in helping people understand what we want. Doctors are too quick to prescribe

medication when a little counseling is all that is needed. Emotions can never be permanent. One

moment you are sad, next moment you are angry emotions are in process of constant change.

There are other ways to safely help balance your emotions.

Yoga and Meditation can be useful tools for many positive changes in many areas of life.

Yoga is a vast collection of spiritual techniques and practices aimed at integrating mind, body

and spirit to achieve a state of enlightenment or oneness with the universe (YogaBasics) There

are many different forms and techniques of yoga. Depending on your level of experience and

goals, there is some sort of yoga for everyone. There are many long term benefits of practicing

yoga and meditation. Everyone loves to be more positive; When you practice yoga and

meditation, it will provide you with many ways to keep your emotions in balance. You will

always be ready to achieve all of your dreams and desires.(YogaAwakening)There is no surprise

to see Yoga being offered everywhere from school, rec centers, and gyms. Some employers

even offer yoga classes to their employees or give them discounted rates at nearby centers. The

importance of having clarity and balance in all areas of life is why so many of us practice yoga.

The history of yoga dates back over 5000 years ago, and some researcher’s think it may be up to
10,000 years old. Yoga's long rich history can be divided into four main periods of innovation,

practice and development (YogaBasics) It’s clear that people have many ways to keep their

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emotions in check. There are hundreds of books written about techniques and inspirational

teaching on how to control emotions in a positive way. Emotional Wellness by OSHO is a great

book that teaches us to experience our emotions fully and to deal with them creatively in hopes

of achieving a richer fuller life. Scientifically, it has become clearer now, but even without

scientific investigation the mystics have been saying exactly the same thing for thousands of

years- that all these things your mind is filled with are not yours; you are beyond them (Osho)

The mind is an interface for recording experiences and responding and reacting accordingly.

Many people will remain helpless their entire lives because they fail to realize the separation

between mind and awareness. The separation is one of the greatest revolution that can happen to

a human being (OSHO) Your life becomes a beautiful work of art; you spend time doing the

things that bring you joy and fulfillment. You clearing recognize and avoid things that make you

miserable. With a little practice and concentration anybody can create a more positive and happy

life.

Throughout history the emotions of fear, hope, and humiliation have helped change the

world. Obama’s whole campaign was based on the emotion of hope. There are two different

connotations of hope. Hope in the spiritual sense of the term and in the secular meaning. (Moisi )

Hope has taken on a materialistic overtone and the spiritual side diminishes. Hope is an

expression of confidence; it is based on the conviction that today is better than yesterday and the

tomorrow will be better than today. Humiliation the other hand is injured confidence in those
who have lost hope in the future (Moisi)“We might even agree that the emotional conflicts raised

by identity issues in today’s globalizing world appear likely to have significant impact on

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geopolitics. “(p. 74) When people are afraid they do not think clearly and accurately. They will

do anything for the feeling of being safe.

Ways to often people are searching for outside sources to control and alter their emotions.

Medications for everything from depression and anxiety to ADHD and insomnia are being

prescribed in alarming numbers across the country. The over prescribed psychotropic drugs and

costly psychiatrist is not he answer. We all have ability to be fully aware. For a lot of people

they go on in misery and sadness, they remain helpless repeating the same things that cause

misery. Everyone should learn how to safely and effectively control their emotions because the

benefits are great.

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References

Brandeis University (2006, January 4). Psychotropic Drug Prescriptions For Teens Surge 250%

Over 7 Year Period. Science Daily. Retrieved April 29, 2011, from

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060103114004.htm

Breggin, Peter, M.D. (2008). Medication Madness: A Psychiatrist Exposes the Dangers of

Mood-Altering Medications. Chicago, IL: St Martin’s Press.

Breggin, P. (2006, June 6). Intoxication Anosognosia: The Spellbinding Effect of Psychiatric

Drugs. Retrieved March 01, 2011, from http://breggin.com/index.php?

option=com_docman&Itemid=37

Gilburt, John. (2010, May 23). Marijuana: A wet blanket over your emotions. Retreived April

06, 2011, from http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci15146876?

source=most_emailed#axzz1IUrUsS45.

Marymount Manhattan College. (2006). The Benefits of Counseling. Retrieved April 07, 2011,

from http://www.mmm.edu/current/counseling/benefitsofcounseling.html

MedicineNet.Com. (2004 February). Definition of Psychotropic medication. Retrieved February

 20, 2011, from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=30808.

Public Health Agency.(2009 October). Know Your Limits. Retrieved March 26, 2011, from

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http://www.knowyourlimits.info/TheEffectsOfAlcohol.aspx