Dealing with the physiological effects of a disability is already burdensome, but managing its accompanying emotional and psychological effects at the same time can become too emotionally draining. Individuals with disabilities attempt to process both the physical and psychological effects of disability, but failure to regulate these can lead to emotional dysfunction, causing additional problems in their well-being and compromising their recovery.
One way of decreasing the impact of the disability is to manage the emotions associated with it. Emotions are reactions to the changes in relationships between the individual and the environment. It is crucial to cultivate emotional intelligence to buffer the effects of a disability or any setbacks that people might encounter.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, appraise, understand, express, and manage emotions to solve problems and promote emotional growth. An adequate ability to process affective information leads to better management of negative affect, reducing severe consequences on individuals’ well-being.
Increased emotional intelligence allows individuals to respect their emotional experiences and those of others. Furthermore, it facilitates adaptive problem-solving, helping individuals frame their problems and use their creativity to find solutions. Exhibiting these skills helps individuals adjust and adapt to various life changes, making it easier for them to deal with the results of their life experiences. The ability to process, regulate and understand emotions promotes health and protects against emotional dysfunction. In addition, emotional intelligence also helps increase self-awareness, control impulses, manage delayed gratification and handle stress.
High emotional intelligence was associated with decreased symptoms of depression, indicating that higher abilities to regulate emotions lead to better psychosocial functioning. Individuals possessing high emotional intelligence can mediate the relationship between stress and mental health, increasing tolerance to stress.
Emotional Intelligence Process
- Acknowledgment of emotion
- Recognising the presence of emotions.
- Discriminating the similarities and differences of emotions.
- Becoming aware of own and other people’s feelings and thoughts.
- Integration of emotion and thought
- Weighing emotions and thoughts.
- Considering multiple points of view and perspectives.
- Directing attention to important information.
- Analysis and understanding of emotions
- Recognising the relationships between emotions and situations.
- Labeling emotions.
- Interpreting the meanings and relationships of emotions and situations.
- Understanding complex feelings.
- Management and regulation of emotions
- Being open to pleasant and unpleasant emotions.
- Moderating negative and positive feelings.
- Expressing emotions accurately and appropriately to the situation.
- Identifying ways on how to manage emotions.
Activities to develop emotional intelligence
- Constant communication and interaction with others
- Emotion sharing exercises
- Role-playing activities
- Rehearsal of crucial conversations such as breaking bad news to family or negotiating with an employer
- Modelling of effective skills and techniques
- Journal writing
- Group discussion
- Psycho-education on emotion regulation, anger and stress management, assertiveness skills, communication skills
- Other activities such as reading books, listening to music, watching videos
Emotions are an integral part of the human experience, and they have a significant impact on the lives of individuals. Individuals can either allow unhealthy emotions to control them or use their emotions as guides to living better lives. Experiencing emotions is inevitable, but they can be regulated. Cultivating emotional intelligence is essential in decreasing any effects of various life experiences.
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