Emotion regulation includes the ability to recognize and respond to emotions in oneself and others in a healthy and socially acceptable way.
Two of the first steps in learning to regulate emotions are:
Identify emotions
Express emotions verbally
One of my favorite spoofs about identifying and expressing emotions is : Mother Love. It’s also a great exercise in listening skills on the part of the audience.
Sounds simple, yet sometimes it can be hard to do — for the child and the adult.
Remember that the prefrontal cortex acts as the CEO of the brain, controlling planning, working memory, organization, and modulating mood.
Keep in mind too, that the prefrontal cortex of the brain is one of the last areas of the brain to mature. The more awareness that children/teens develop about their emotions and appropriate ways to express their emotions helps build their social and emotional competence.
The table below is a partial list of feelings words that can be used to help your child identify and better understand their emotions. The feelings are listed according to intensity– from low to high, e.g., the Glad column starts with the low intensity of At ease and ends with the high intensity of Ecstatic.
Feelings Word List
Each Column is Listed in Order of Intensity from Low to High| Glad | Mad | Sad | Afraid | Ashamed | Confused |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At ease Secure Comfortable Relaxed Contented Optimistic Satisfied Refreshed Stimulated Pleased Warm Snug Happy Encouraged Tickled Proud Cheerful Thrilled Delighted Joyful Elated Exhilarated Overjoyed Ecstatic | Bothered Ruffled Irritated Displeased Annoyed Steamed Irked Perturbed Frustrated Angry Fed up Disgusted Indignant Ticked off Bristling Fuming Explosive Enraged Irate Incensed Burned up Outraged Furious Blind rage | Down Blue Somber Low Glum Lonely Disappointed Worn out Melancholy Down hearted Unhappy Dissatisfied Gloomy Mournful Grieved Depressed Lousy Crushed Defeated Dejected Empty Wretched Despairing Devastated | Uneasy Apprehensive Careful Cautious Hesitant Tense Anxious Nervous Edgy Distressed Scared Frightenend Repulsed Agitiated Afraid Shocked Alarmed Overwhelmed Frantic Panic stricken Horrified Petrified Terrified Numb | Uncomfortable Awkward Clumsy Self-conscious Disconcerted Chagrinned Abashed Embarrassed Flustered Sorry Apologetic Ashamed Regretful Remorseful Guilty Disgusted Belittled Humiliated Violated Dirty Mortified Defiled Devastated Degraded | Curious Uncertain Ambivalent Doubtful Unsettled Hesitant Perplexed Puzzled Muddled Distracted Flustered Jumbled Unfocused Fragmented Dismayed Insecure Dazed Bewildered Lost Stunned Chaotic Torn Baffled Dumbfounded |
