3 Emotional Factors That Drain Your Energy

Introduction

Unresolved emotions can deplete one’s energies. Because they are physically active and spend their energy working or exercising, individuals with physically demanding jobs or lifestyles may occasionally experience low energy.

However, many individuals have sedentary or stationary occupations. For instance, office workers may finish the day without spending much physical energy yet still feel exhausted. Intense, unresolved emotions may be the root cause of this lack of energy. 

3 Emotional Factors That Drain Your Energy

To live a high-energy lifestyle, you must understand the factors that help you boost your energy and those that drain it. One aspect to check is your emotions. Emotions can either increase or drain your energy, preventing you from having a high-energy lifestyle. Here are three of these emotional factors.

Emotional Intensity

Researchers from Yale and Sandford universities evaluate the intensity of positive and negative emotions. According to them, highly intense positive emotions include:

• Excited
• Elated
• Ecstatic

On the other hand, highly negative emotions include:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Fear

Although it may be evident that powerful negative emotions can sap your energy, researchers have discovered that intense good emotions can also leave you feeling exhausted. Powerful negative and positive emotions affect the body due to the “fight or flight” reaction.

The brain reacts as if a possible threat is there when the body is subjected to extreme emotion. According to Harvard Health physicians, your body gets flooded with the hormone adrenalin.  

Adrenaline causes physical changes, including:

• Increased Heart Rate
• Increased Blood Pressure
• Rapid Breathing
• Increased Alertness
• Improved Senses
• Elevated Blood Sugar

Eventually, adrenaline and blood sugar levels decline, leaving you emotionally and physically exhausted. Unresolved emotions perpetuate this adrenaline cycle, leaving you tired all the time.

Knowing how to handle emotional intensity is essential to controlling the physical sensations that come with it. Instead of reacting and feeling like you are in a fight-or-flight situation, you can take a deep breath and relax. You can also think of a more positive outcome. That is an effective way to control the emotional intensity and make it more manageable.

Negative Emotions

It can be challenging to handle negative emotions. It is difficult to confront and regulate feelings of anger and grief. Frequently, individuals repress these feelings and leave them unsolved, depleting their energies in the process. Here are two powerful negative emotions that prevent you from living a high-energy lifestyle.

• Anger
• Grief
• Worry & Anxiety

Anger

Anger is a powerful feeling that may result in a person striking out at others, followed by repressing their anger to avoid the consequences. People who express anger may feel guilty and antisocial, separating themselves from others. Depression can result from these feelings. Over time, anger can lead to negativity, and anger can also drain your energy levels. 

So, how can you handle this emotion? There are many ways. First, if you are angry, it is essential to understand why. Is it because you are mad about a particular person? Is there something that has happened in your life that you are angry about? Once you understand why, you can find ways to cope with the anger healthily. 

For example, a person may be mad because they could not do something they wanted, like not being able to watch a favorite show. So, they take a break and watch a movie instead.

Grief

Grief can negatively affect your energy levels, making it harder to do what you need daily. It can also cause emotional stress that can lead to sleep deprivation. It can also leave you feeling exhausted. If you are experiencing grief, it might feel like you are doing everything possible to help yourself, and while you are, it is crucial to be mindful of how that affects your energy levels. If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep or don’t feel like you are getting enough rest, try changing your routine. The most significant change you can make is to take care of yourself. 

Worry & Anxiety

If you frequently feel fatigued, worry and anxiety may be to blame. They can sap your vitality and leave you feeling exhausted and down. When you understand how and why stress and anxiety cause you to feel fatigued, you can take steps to resolve the issue. 

If you stay up later than usual, you will likely experience fatigue the following day. Even if anxiety and stress do not keep you up at night, they can still sap your energy. Here are the signs that worry and anxiety are draining you:

• Caffeine doesn’t help
• A good night’s sleep doesn’t give you more energy
• You get tired before social events
• You have physical symptoms
• You feel like you’re in a fog

According to a study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, worry and anxiety can induce memory and concentration issues. They fill your thoughts and may impair your ability to feel alert and focused. 

According to research published in the Phycological Bulletin Journal, worry and anxiety alter the body’s serotonin and dopamine levels. Serotonin and dopamine are mood and energy-regulating chemicals. Lowering their levels will leave you feeling exhausted and worn out. 

A study released by Cambridge University Press discovered a high correlation between low energy levels and depression. Frequently, worry and anxiety result in depression. Depression aggravates poor energy levels.

Emotional Exhaustion

Burnout is mental, emotional, and physical tiredness that causes feelings of ineffectiveness, hopelessness, cynicism, and resentment. It can leave you feeling exhausted or depleted. Chronic, unresolved stress leads to emotional exhaustion and eventually to burnout.

Everyday situations that can lead to emotional exhaustion include:

• High-Pressure Jobs
• Overwork, including Long Hours or Lack of Breaks
• Dissatisfaction or Hating Your Job
• Pregnancy and Childbirth
• Financial Stress
• Housing Insecurity or Homelessness
• Being a Caregiver for a Family Member
• Divorce
• Death of Someone Close to You
• Chronic Illness

Each of these scenarios can result in unresolved feelings. Unresolved job tension may exist when you feel unable to speak up or quit your job due to financial concerns. Not having enough money for rent or finding a new house because your landlord has terminated your lease is an immediate problem that may prevent you from managing your emotions.

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society revealed that carers with high-stress levels have more significant mortality or death rates than non-caregivers.  

Divorce is a major loss that can cause anger and sorrow. Chronic illness brings emotional and physical stress, frequently leading to feelings of hopelessness and depression. Death is the ultimate type of loss and can be emotionally challenging for individuals to cope with. All these can heavily drain energy.

Caring for yourself is essential. Many people ignore their feelings and needs because they feel so overwhelmed. If you neglect your own needs, you will eventually become emotionally exhausted from trying to care for other people. When experiencing emotional exhaustion, take time for yourself. Read a book, take a walk, or go for a walk with your dog. You should also try to care for yourself by caring for your health and practicing self-care.

Conclusion

A high-energy lifestyle requires that you manage your emotions before they ruin you. If you are experiencing low energy levels from unresolved emotions, take time to care for yourself. Yoga, meditation, and journaling can be helpful. Seeing a therapist can also help you process and manage feelings that can lower your energy levels.

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