Negative Emotions Exist for a Reason - Deepstash
How To Live A Long Life

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Negative Emotions Exist for a Reason

Anxiety is not pleasant, but it is a substantial feature of human psychology for a reason. And ameliorating anxiety fully, as demonstrated by Nesse’s anecdote, can actually be maladaptive and counterproductive.

Negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression, actually exist for a reason, and efforts to fully ameliorate negative emotions are evolutionarily misguided.

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Anxiety and Happiness Motivates Us

Just as anxiety evolved to help motivate adaptive behaviors, happiness has also evolved to help motivate adaptive behaviors.

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Happiness Is Only a Proximate Goal

Happiness is a proximate outcome. It matters, and it is nice. But it is not an ultimate evolutionary outcome.

Thus, we may be thrilled to have a piece of chocolate cake on the table in front of us at a birthday party. But t...

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Why happiness is a good thing? and why do we want it so badly? Is this the ultimate goal of our evolution? to ameliorate negative emotions? I find these ideas important as it reminds me that having anxiety is normal just like being happy. They help us motivate in life to survive just like what our ancestors did.

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Negative inner chatter, emotions, and the brain

A study of the Yale School of Medicin, revealed how persistend negative internal dialogue weakened multiple neural structures. 

Structures such as the insula and the amygdala showed high hyperactivity. These areas related to emotions such as fear or attention to threats in your environment ...

Managing emotions

Emotions such as pain and sadness may be difficult to contain, but nothing to be ashamed of. However, sometimes one may prefer to hide one's feelings if it can cause one further vulnerability.

Burying negative emotions can lead to several mental health issues. Avoiding the person, people, ...

Addressing negative emotions

Research shows that accepting negative emotions may be more beneficial. Recognize that how you feel is valid. It's okay not to feel okay. Don't feel pressured to attempt lofty tasks such as picking a new hobby.

Make the best of it by accepting the situation as it is and d...

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