Part of the trauma processing work that I support clients through in therapy sessions involves helping people understand the difference between feelings and emotions.
Feelings are mental associations and reactions that arise from thoughts. Some times these thoughts are in our conscious or subconscious awareness. Feelings are subjective because they are influenced by our own personal experiences, memories and beliefs unique to us.
Emotions on the other hand are biochemical reactions associated with the nervous system, usually triggered by neurophysiological changes associated with feelings, thoughts and behaviours. Emotions are generally universally experienced. Helping people understand that our emotions can be physically felt and held in our body as a result of trauma is part of the processing work. That’s why I find it important to draw on the wisdom of both psychotherapy and somatic therapy when supporting clients manage the often unmanageable emotions, feelings and sensations.