#emotional-processing

#emotional-processing

Existential dread is a deep sense of sadness and even terror that can arise when we struggle to understand our existence, such as our mortality, feelings of isolation, and a perceived lack of meaning in our lives. Because existential dread can be so intense, we may avoid or suppress our feelings, which often worsens rather than improves our dread. Further, we may be hesitant to seek support for fear of being stigmatized for struggling with our mental health.

More often than not, however, the problem is not a lack of love. Instead, it is the absence of a far more specific and demanding skill: the ability to metabolize a rupture without rushing to resolution. This skill is a decisive factor in the fate of our relationships. It determines whether conflict deepens intimacy or corrodes it, whether repair restores trust or merely papers over harm, and, most important, whether love matures or slowly folds under the weight of unresolved emotional residue.

You know what's strange? The people who've been hurt the most often end up being the kindest souls you'll ever meet. It doesn't make sense at first. Logic would suggest that repeated betrayals, disappointments, and wounds would harden someone's heart. Build walls, create cynics, and yet (somehow) certain rare individuals manage to stay genuinely warm and compassionate despite everything life throws at them.

When we were supposed to be on holiday but weren't, I kept feeling a tug towards finding the positive: I can book a replacement trip; At least we have travel insurance; This'll give me something to write about. But I never felt better, just a bit depressed. And then I would bump up against the reality that this holiday really was gone: my husband's surgery required frequent agonising dressing changes, and there is a limited time window for an enjoyable break on the Belgian coast.

C: The children are wrong. Not really, but there needs to be a third option. And consider this: it takes a young dad a moment to realize that their own childhood is over, and that these funny, adorable kids he loves so much will also eventually shove him into his grave. It's OK for him to be a little childish as he processes this life change. But he should leave your utes out of it. Certain words deserve respect.

The moon in quizzical and quick-thinking Gemini is flying solo today and recovering from yesterday's action, giving you a chance to do the same.

Traumatization occurs when someone feels defeated and believes their dangerous situation will never end. The brain's response to overwhelming events matters more than the severity of what actually happened.