The emotional seizure it is a psychological phenomenon in which a‘intense emotion takes over on rationalityleading to impulsive and out of control reactions.
This state is often caused byActivation of the amygdalaa part of the brain involved in the Management of emotionswho in situations of strong stress or danger takes control, putting the prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thinking in the background.
But what exactly happens in our brain during an emotional kidnapping? And how can we recognize it, manage it and prevent it in everyday life? Let’s find out together in the next paragraphs.
Emotional kidnapping according to Goleman: the link with emotional intelligence
“When we are prey to strong emotions, the latter end up taking control of our attention and the result is that we fix ourselves on what disturbs us by forgetting everything else”
(Daniel Goleman)
Daniel Goleman, in his book “emotional intelligence”, introduced the concept of emotional seizure To describe those situations in which the amygdala takes over the neocortex, leading to disproportionate or impulsive reactions.
According to Goleman, good emotional intelligence helps to recognize and manage these episodes, allowing you to recover control more quickly. Emotional intelligence is defined as a soft skill and implies the competence and the ability to recognize and know how to use not only one’s emotions, but also understand those of others.
Emotional seizure and amigdala: the role of the brain in extreme emotional reactions
THE’amigdala It is a fundamental brain structure for the Management of emotionsabove all of fear and anger. When he perceives a threat, he activates an immediate response that can make us act without reflecting. This mechanism has an evolutionary origin and is useful in situations of real danger, but it can be problematic in daily life. From an evolutionary point of view, the amygdala guaranteed the survival of the species, as it is active, in the face of a danger, to the attack-trail behavior.
Neurosciences have recently integrated the concept of attachment to two other behaviors functional to the survival of the species: the freezing And it fainting (Black out). Let’s try to make some examples relating to these behaviors that have guaranteed us survival and evolution. When we perceive a danger, for example a predator who wants to venture, our amygdala warns us in a fraction of a second. We activate our attentive skills, evaluate the environment and evaluate the danger to decide: we run away with raised legs, or if we think we can manage the ferocious animal potential we decide to defend ourselves.
There are people who, in the face of the same animal, activate a very ancient mechanism: they paralyze or pass out. In every situation the mind, put under stress is forced to decide quickly by activating, paralyzing or “turning off” the body.
But what really happens? Let’s take a step back. Let’s remember the ferocious predator. Well, the assessment made upstream is different on the basis of the perception that each of us has the environment, of similar previous experiences, of the knowledge of our resources (probably if I have a stick or I am very fast I decide my actions with consequences).
These behaviors are therefore regulated by a series of factors and the emotions below are mostly anger and fear. The example of the animal is simple and explanatory, but instead we imagine a situation between two people where one of the two does not control their anger. For a sufficiently long period, it is completely blinded by anger and attacks the other person.
The emotional seizure occurs when the amygdala responds excessively to a situation, temporarily blocking access to the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for logic and rationality. This mental blackout It prevents a rational evaluation of events, causing impulsive and often excessive reactions. It is therefore a process that requires a huge amount of brain energy to the detriment of the person’s mental health and emotional well -being.
When the brain goes into blackout
The situations that can trigger an emotional seizure include acute or chronic stress, trauma of the past and automatic reactions.
In these content, the cortisolan essential glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal glands plays a crucial role. This hormone is involved in various physiological processes: it regulates the circadian rhythm and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-legal axis (HPA), a neuroendocrine system fundamental for the response to the stress and the maintenance of the internal balance of the body.
However, when the regulation of cortisol is altered – due to chronic stress, diseases or aging – significant repercussions on different body systems (Knezevic et al., 2023) can occur. The stressIn fact, it can create a condition of constant emotional hyperactivationmaking the amygdala more reactive to certain stimuli. In this state, even a simple trigger can activate impulsive and instinctive responses, often disconnected from the real context but deeply rooted in the emotional experience of the person.
Emotional seizure and emotional contagion
The emotions are contagious and this is a fact that we know since the discovery of the mirror neurons that took place in 1992 (Bonini et al, 2022). The emotional seizure can be amplified by the presence of other emotionally involved people. For example, in situations of collective panic, the fear of others can intensify its emotional reaction. The crowd can have an amplifying power against fear and anger and often the consequences have been devastating. But in other cases, we imagine during concerts when the common goal is fun, emotions amplify positively.
Strategies to recognize and manage emotional reactions
To prevent and manage an emotional seizure, it is essential to develop the emotional awareness. Some useful steps include the recognition of physical signals, the ability to give a name to emotion and knowing how to use adequate faces strategies.
The first step is to recognize the body signs. Generally when you are prey to emotions the heartbeat accelerates, the musculature of the body enters voltage and the breath Become quick and frantic. In this situation you could ask what emotion is being manifested in the here and now. Being able to identify, describe and verify an emotion It is an important step in not being overwhelmed by feelings. Finally, techniques can be used to reduce the activity of the Amigdala, such as the Mindfulnessconscious breath e techniques of relaxation muscle.
Techniques to resume control
When we find ourselves at the mercy of an emotional kidnapping, it may seem impossible to recover control. However, they exist Effective strategies that allow you to stop the reactive cycle and of reactivate the areas of the brain responsible for rational thinking.
There diaphragmatic breathing It is a simple and effective technique that is practiced by inhaling slowly, retaining for 5 ” and then exhaling and letting go. This practice calms the nervous system and allows greater effectiveness of the control of emotions and actions. As well as the regular practice of the Mindfulness and of the meditation It allows you to reach a level of self -awareness and control in the here and now. Then there are some cognitive renovation techniques Where false beliefs and dysfunctional thoughts are replaced with greater positivity and proactivity in acting.
The role of therapy in learning to recognize and manage emotions
In some cases, the support of a professional can be useful for learning to better manage emotions. Some recommended therapeutic approaches are CBT, i.e. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy specific for those who have suffered important traumas or who cannot integrate negative experiences in their experience. And finally the TErapie of emotional regulation which help in the management of acute states of emotional discomfort.
Conclusion
Emotional seizure is a phenomenon that can have a strong impact on daily life, but with adequate awareness and strategies it is possible to manage it effectively. Learning to recognize the signals of your body, practice emotional regulation techniques and, if necessary, contact a professional are fundamental steps to avoid being overwhelmed by emotions and maintain control in stress situations.
