Just Feelings

"Feelings are just visitors. Let them come and go."

Truth.

The term for addictions which are not chemical-based is "Process Addictions."

And, there are a LOT of them.

Examples:

Religious Addiction, Validation Addiction*, Pornography Addiction, Co-dependency Addiction, Gambling Addiction, etc.

I have Validation Addiction. 

It is a process addiction.

Emotions and feelings are very intertwined into addictions of all sorts.

Either we are underdeveloped in our ability to understand and process emotions or feelings, or we are unable to do so in a healthy manner, or we have other underlying issues which really prevent us from doing so until we learn the tools by which to do so.

I heard this past weekend:

"They are just emotions. They are not dangerous. I just need to process them."

Brilliant reminder to me that emotions really are JUST emotions.

They aren't dangerous.

Feelings aren't dangerous.

We just need to process them.

I am a firm believer that every human needs to have a therapist that they can, at the very least, check in with annually.

There are many, many tools for us to learn and to maintain the ability to process.

Note:

I didn't say "conquer" our feelings and emotions because that isn't necessary.

We aren't in war against emotions and feelings.

They are a part of us.

We just need to sit with them, then do with them what is necessary.

That may be to let them go - in one side of our head and out the other.

That may be that we need to contact someone and talk.

That may mean that we need to lay down and rest, or eat something, or cry, or laugh, or scream into a pillow, or set boundaries within a relationship...

But, feelings really are just visitors.