Navigating the Depths of Human Emotions: Understanding, Adapting, and Processing

Human Emotions
Emotions are both simple and complex, residing at the core of our human experience. At their essence, our brain houses seven fundamental emotional systems, intricately connected to our body's nervous system, giving rise to our basic emotional responses. These seminal emotions, as elucidated by pioneering affective neuroscientist Jack Penksepp, encompass lust, anger, excitement, panic, grief, fear, care, and joy. Antonio Damassio, another prominent neuroscientist, posits that emotions serve as feedback mechanisms, gauging our survival status. In essence, they are signals, indicating the sustainability and safety of our bodies, relationships, and environment, and guiding us on adaptive behaviors for survival.

However, uniquely as humans, we possess the neo cortex, a cognitive domain enabling us to override and suppress our primal emotions. This cerebral region facilitates higher-order functions like reasoning, reflection, and planning. Yet, when we stifle our emotions to conform to societal norms — refraining from reacting aggressively when provoked by our boss or withholding tears in public places — we inadvertently obstruct our access to their inherent wisdom and guidance.

Running in the Waves: A Lesson in Emotion and Adaptation
When my son was around five years old, we went to the beach on a family vacation. He was enjoying playing in the surf with his older cousin. With each rush of crashing waves, he'd dart into the water, only to be knocked over and then hurriedly return to my side. His little hand would reach out, seeking reassurance, before running back to rejoin his cousin's antics. What was going on? The force of the waves (and the sound of them) along with the brief moments submerged underwater scared him which signaled to him the potential danger of the situation. In order to adapt to survival he sought solace in my presence, finding comfort in the care and strength I offered. With this reassurance, he would gather the courage to venture back into the waves, joining his cousin in play. Without my presence, he would have been compelled to find alternative ways to confront his fear, perhaps abandoning the water altogether or suppressing his emotions (of not only fear but panic as well when he didn’t have an attachment figure to connect to), enduring a tense, disconnected experience. Such suppression could have left him with unresolved energy, hindering his ability to fully engage with his surroundings until addressed.

Summary

At the end of the day we have to acknowledge and honor our emotions, both primal and societal, without judgment. While it's essential to temper our instinctual reactions to practice love and maintain social harmony, we mustn't neglect the importance of acknowledging and processing our emotions in safe spaces, allowing them to complete their natural course. Emotions, akin to balloons, inflate with tension, urging us to take action in order to release the tension and restore equilibrium. In confronting anti-social impulses, rather than condemning them, we should approach them with empathy and support, facilitating their resolution in a nurturing environment.