Question posed to me, perchance applicable to others: Why do you experience more pain/sadness/fear (i.e., negative emotions) than joy (i.e., positive emotions)? I didnt know how to respond. While pondering the question, I felt shame (there must be something wrong with me) ... sadness (Ive felt this way most of my life ... what a waste) ... fear (others wont want anything to do with me if I bring them down). I Googled the question ... and found this: Why do we become suddenly hyper-focused on the negative rather than the positive in our life...when something negative happens? First of all let it be known that: ... negative events have a greater impact on everyone’s brains than positive events do. Everyones...not just yours. :) An EXPLANATION...... 1.) The brain gives more attention to negative experiences over positive ones because negative events pose a chance of DANGER. By default, the brain alerts itself to potential threats in the environment, and... THEN awareness of positive aspects suddenly takes a lot more deliberate effort. (We become hyper-focused on the negative, so we have a hard time seeing, hearing, or feeling positive.) 2.) It is this naturally occurring start of negative & then...constant negative feedback loop at play that, if NOT interrupted or countered, can lead to significant psychological distress. It is this vicious cycle that leads so many people spiraling down rabbit holes of depression and extreme anxiety. 3) This outcome is so common that researchers have given it a name: the negativity bias. The negativity bias is a result of the of the fight-or-flight response that is activated only during negative experiences. The adrenaline rush and increased heart rate that occur with the fight-or-flight response cause negative events to be experienced more intensely and imprinted on the brain more firmly. 4) Although some people are naturally more negative, negative events still have a greater impact on everyone’s brains than positive events do. That impact often takes the form of even further vigilance regarding negative information and potential threats in the environment that must be constantly monitored. This vicious cycle is what leads so many people spiraling down rabbit holes of depression and extreme anxiety. There is a constant negative feedback loop at play that, if not interrupted or countered, can lead to significant psychological distress. 5) Negative experiences frequently are unavoidable, but reframing or reinterpreting the feedback loop is possible. Redefining negative situations in more positive or humorous terms counters the adverse psychological effects that would otherwise be experienced. The negativity bias generally occurs outside conscious awareness, so the first step in countering it is to realize it exists. Heres another article: nytimes/2012/03/24/your-money/why-people-remember-negative-events-more-than-positive-ones.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 05:10:39 +0000
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