Psychological research shows that individuals who can acknowledge their emotional response to a change cope with it better. Some of us appear to be better equipped to acknowledge our emotions than others. Cultural background, gender, age and other factors can influence how well an individual acknowledges his or her emotional response.

How good are you at recognising and acknowledging your emotions?

The difference between “feeling” and “intellectualising”

FEELING – Acknowledging your emotions

INTELLECTUALISING – Rationalising your emotions

Typical rationalising statements often include the word “understand”. Try not to intellectualise your emotions!

It is important to remember that emotional responses are the reason people care about anything. However, acknowledging your true emotions and feelings is more than just saying "Yes, I feel this way right now". It's about feeling the emotion and applying thought to it, and coming to a decision as to whether to act on it or not.

List some of your emotional responses to your present situation by using one or two descriptive words.

Remember that all the emotions you describe are normal, natural and predictable. So don’t be worried by these responses but:

• Acknowledge them
• Talk to your family and friends about them
• Don’t just bottle them up
• Be positive about your emotions!