The Emotional Cup · 5 Symptoms of a “Full Emotional Cup” Pain, Hurt Anger Fear, Anxiety Guilt, False Guilt Condemnaton, Shame Stress Stress magnifies existing emotions

The Emotional Cup

What happens to the painful emotions that we experience?

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“Emotions that are buried, are buried alive!”


The heaviest of the emotions… the most painful… sinks to the bottom.


Symptoms of a “Full Emotional Cup”

Pain, Hurt

Anger

Fear, AnxietyGuilt, False Guilt

Condemnaton, Shame

StressStress magnifies existing emotions

Most intense emotions sink to the bottom

We have a limited capacity of emotion

Physical Affects: Sleep/appetite disturbances, headaches, stomach-aches, digestive problems

Escapes into work, drugs/alcohol, infidelity, pornography, fantasy, TV, computer, food, books, etc.

Depression, impatience,Quick temper, outbursts anger

Controlling behaviors, obsessive-compulsive “thinking-doing”

Chronic Fatigue, Lower Backaches, Headaches & Migrains


Pain, Hurt

Embarrassment, rejection, loneliness, betrayal, abandonment, neglect, etc.



Pain, Hurt

Anger


Condemnaton, Shame










Anger

Hurt feelings prompt anger


Anger

Hurt feelings prompt anger

Impatience, quick temper, intolerant, passive-aggressive, sarcasm, avoidance



Pain, Hurt

Anger


Condemnaton, Shame










Fear, Anxiety

Anger is “past” oriented… Fear is “future” oriented


Fear, Anxiety


Withdrawal


Fear, Anxiety


Withdrawal

Perfectionism


Fear, Anxiety


Withdrawal

Perfectionism

Control


Fear, Anxiety


Withdrawal

Perfectionism

Control

Addictions



Pain, Hurt

Anger


Condemnaton, Shame










Guilt, False Guilt


Guilt, False Guilt

Initially guilt is a good emotion


Guilt, False Guilt

Initially guilt is a good emotion

False guilt assumes responsibility for hurtful actions that we are not responsible for.



Pain, Hurt

Anger


Condemnaton, Shame










Condemnation, Shame

Most complicated emotion



Pain, Hurt

Anger


Condemnaton, Shame










Stress

Stress magnifies existing emotions



Pain, Hurt

Anger


Condemnaton, Shame










Spillage

Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, low sexual desires


Escape Behaviors

Alcohol, drugs, pornography, TV, work, shopping, sports, the internet, music, hobbies, etc.


Physical symptoms

High blood pressure, lower back pain, skin rashes, migraine headaches, stomachaches, chronic fatigue, trouble sleeping, eating disorders, etc.


Results of a Full Emotional Cup



We suffer emotionally




We are unable to feel positive emotions





Our personal spillage will adversely affect all of our relationships





Our personal spillage will adversely affect all of our relationships

Our emotional cup goes with us wherever we go


Positive results of Emptying the Emotional Cup



Painful symptoms may subside



Painful symptoms may subside

We’ll be able to enjoy positive emotions


Principles for Emptying our Emotional Cup



Discover and own your hurt




Share your hurt




Share your hurt - with the Lord




Share your hurt - with the Lord, and with a trusted friend or counselor





Receive Comfort





Receive Comfort - don’t try to “be strong”





Receive Comfort - don’t try to “be strong”

Verbally confirm your have received comfort


Mt.5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”.


A little homework

What was the most severe emotion of the day?____________________________

Who, what,when,where? (describe how it happened)________________________

I shared my hurt with (name)_________ He/She responded with _____________________________________________

The Emotional Cup · 5 Symptoms of a “Full Emotional Cup” Pain, Hurt Anger Fear, Anxiety Guilt, False Guilt Condemnaton, Shame Stress Stress magnifies existing emotions

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