FRUSTRATION!

What is frustration? In psychology, frustration is a very common emotional response to the opposition, which is related to anger, annoyance, and even disappointment. The emotion of frustration arises from the perceived resistance to the fulfillment of an individual's will, plan, or goal and increases when a will, plan, or goal is denied, taken away, or blocked. There are two types of frustration: internal frustration and external frustration. What is the difference? Internal frustration arises from challenges and obstacles in fulfilling personal goals, desires, instinctual and physical needs, or dealing when dealing with perceived deficiencies, such as a lack of confidence, fear of social situations, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and depression. Conflicting situations, like when we have competing goals that interfere with each other, can also be an internal frustration or annoyance and can create cognitive dissonance. External causes of frustration involve conditions that are outside our control, such as roadblocks, a challenging task, or the perception of time-wasting. There are many different ways we cope with frustration such as passive-aggressive behavior, anger, or violence, although frustration may also propel positive processes through enhanced effort, passion, and strive. This broad range of potential outcomes makes it difficult to identify the original cause or causes of frustration, and as a response, maybe indirect.

What causes frustration?

Most of the time frustration originates from feelings of uncertainty and insecurity which come from a sense of inability to fulfill our needs. If our needs are blocked, uneasiness and frustration will more than likely occur. When our needs are constantly ignored or go unsatisfied, then we have anger, depression, loss of self-confidence, annoyance, aggression, and sometimes violent behaviors will follow. Needs are blocked in two different ways; internal blocking as well as external blocking. Internal blocking happens within a person's mind, either they have a lack of ability, confidence, conflicting goals, and desires, or there are fears that come into play. External blocking happens to someone outside of their control such as physical roadblocks, challenging tasks, or their perceived time-wasting.

What can Frustration do to our Health?

Many of us have so many conflicting ideas about doing our health and well-being. We do not really understand what frustration can do to our bodies. Here are some things to take into consideration:

frustration to your body’s means of letting us know we aren't happy about something, but also, its the body's way to say that nutrients and oxygen are not reaching your cells causing a form of malnutrition.

Toxins enter our bodies and bloodstream that will be distributed throughout your body, causing issues with the functioning of your cells.

Frustration can havoc on the body causing headaches, increased aggravation, constipation, heart issues,....etc.

Frustration has a negative impact on the immune system causing the body to decrease the productivity in our immune systems causing us to have weakened immune systems which means we are less likely to be able to fight off infections and diseases.

Some of us are emotional eaters and we eat out of that frustration causing increased weight and water gain which puts a strain on our emotional state as well as our circulatory and pulmonary systems.

If we do not learn to manage our frustration we can then enter a state of depression.

How can we manage our frustration to protect our health and well-being as well as the relationships we have with others?

Learning to manage your frustration is not really an easy task to learn. It takes time and an immense amount of effort. Sometimes we fail BUT we get right back up and start over again. Some steps to help deal with frustration are?

Step back and take a deep breath....take 4 if you need to BUT breath! Take that much-needed time-out.

Take a look at the situation that is frustrating us and determine if it is in our control or outside our control.

Evaluation is key. If it is in our control and the original way we were going at that challenge isn't working then we find a different path. If it is out of our control then the only thing we can do is control how we process and feel about it.

Acknowledge the positive in the situation. There IS A POSITIVE IN EVERY SINGLE SITUATION JUST LIKE there IS A NEGATIVE IN EVERY SINGLE SITUATION!

If you are unclear what to do next then talk to someone.

Change the way you think. Become mindful of the situation and everyone that may be involved. If others are involved then their feelings need to be taken into consideration. Talk with them. Here, communication is key. Work things out and come up with a plan of action together.

If you do not have anyone to talk to them consider a personal life coach. Personal life coaches are there with you walking your path beside you every step of the way through every challenge you face. We are there to help guide you so that you get to your path to a positive outcome!