Difficult emotions

Disorders and difficulties Therapies and practical advice Perspectives and controversies

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A painting of a woman sitting at a table with a glass of beer, a cigarette, and a contemplative expression in a café setting.

Love

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Why it can be sublime to love someone who doesn’t love you back

Unrequited love might be bitter and painful, but it is also the ultimate expression of your humanity. Don’t fight it

by Alexandra Gustafson

Worry and rumination

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Stuck in a loop of worrying thoughts? Here’s how to stop it

Dwelling on your difficulties might feel like problem-solving, but it can be pernicious. There are tools to stop the habit

by Megan L Rogers

Photo of a pier with large crashing waves and mist, a person on the pier and a bird flying above in the stormy sky.

Difficult emotions

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How to calm your inner storm

When your emotions become too painful and overwhelming, regain control using skills from dialectical behaviour therapy

by Sheri Van Dijk

Illustration of a young woman with a bob haircut, red skin and two different coloured eyes. She holds her hands up to her cheeks.

Mental health

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Fixating on her body, a woman grapples with strange distortions of the self

Directed by Chenghua Yang

Ancient terracotta sculpture of a seated figure holding a cup, displayed against a dark background.

Psychoanalysis and the unconscious

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Dark feelings will haunt us until they are expressed in words

Continued mental growth requires dealing with alexithymia, or the inability to express emotions through words or images

by Tom Wooldridge

Black-and-white photo of a man walking past another dressed as a bishop on a cobblestone street at night.

Difficult emotions

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The ‘melancholic joy’ of living in our brutal, beautiful world

Beyond simple contentment or despair, there’s a ‘melancholic joy’ in looking, clear-eyed, at our brutal, beautiful world

by Brian Treanor

Black and white photo of a man silhouetted sitting in a doorway looking at boats and a hotel across a harbour.

Difficult emotions

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How to deal with regret

In a world of choices, it’s impossible to avoid regret. Unpleasant as it is, you can make it bearable, even inspirational

by Jelena Kecmanovic

An elderly woman stands in a dark room with bamboo-like plants in the background, illuminated by soft, mystical light from above.

Love

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A grandmother grapples with the fallout of her husband’s double life

Directed by Gabriella Aguirre

Painting of a man with medium-length hair in dark clothing, seated near a window with a city view, holding a book.

Emotions

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What makes hate a unique emotion – and why that matters

How does hating someone compare with anger, contempt or disgust? A clearer picture of what makes it unique is emerging

by Cristhian A Martínez

Painting of a woman in black on a red chair against a red wall holding a white object looking contemplative.

Sadness and sorrow

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Avoiding sadness can backfire, here’s how to turn towards it

Everyone has stretches of sadness. Shifting how you think about and relate to sad feelings could help you through these times

by Beth Kurland

Painting of a woman in a grey dress leaning on a red sofa, her face buried in her hands, evoking a sense of sorrow.

Shame and guilt

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How to cope with shame

Do you feel perpetually bad, broken or unlovable? These tools will help you relate to yourself in a fairer, gentler way

by Michaela B Swee & Susan Murray