The Language of Feelings
by David Viscott
| 1. The importance of feelings in what we perceive. |
| 2. Negative feelings - have the impact of loss. Hurt is the feeling you have lost something. |
| 3. Positive feelings - creative works, acts of love, give a sense of renewal |
| 4. Defenses - block unpleasant (and pleasant) memories. |
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5. Types of loss - love, control, self-esteem. Common thread - must be 'perfect'. |
| 6. Best way to adapt to reality - accept personal vulnerability. |
| 7. Compulsive symptoms - to ward off, undo 'bad' feelings. |
| 8. Note physical symptoms of 'hurt', tension. |
| 9. Stress hormones - make our minds race. |
| 10. Using novels and plays to create tangible opponents, mythizing the abstract (like red tape). |
| 11. Defenses - delaying tactics, slow reactions, protect. |
| 12. Anxiety - fear of loss (hurt); don't ignore, must accept personal limitations. |
| 13. Prejudices - resevoirs of bad feelings. |
| 14. Anger - from being hurt. Trouble when anger festers inside. Try not to modify feelings to be more acceptable to others. |
| 15. Guilt - anger turned against oneself. |
| 16. Depressions - anger turned to hatred. All energy to internal struggle. |
| 17. Getting angry/crying - not out of control, expressing intense feelings. |
| 18. Sense of other's presence - their 'aura'. |
