Catharsis - One Key of a Process to Mental Health

We all strive every day to appear strong and invulnerable in private life and business life. Society or community pressure us to do it - or we believe they expect that from us. In addition, we often hardly have enough time to process certain experiences appropriately, to understand what we have experienced, to assess damage, to resolve contradictions and to overcome frustration an disappointments.

Catharsis is one psychological key to start the process - to find your path and go your way. Our emotions, however, might or will become into view / become obvious in chaotic ways along the way, perhaps in the form of tears of anger or sadness, but little by little they allow us to find the right words to process what we have experienced.

Adrienne Maree Brown once said something which fits in this context - I think or better I like the quote:
“Things are not getting worse. They are getting uncovered. We must hold each other tight and continue to pull back the veil.“ 

And as historical background - The term 'Catharsis' has been in use since the time of the Ancient Greeks, but it was Sigmund Freud's colleague Josef Breuer who was the first to use the term to describe a therapeutic technique.

But coming back and taking the 'picture' of Adrienne Maree Brown - Now, whether we want to or not, it is always advisable to raise the veil / drop the veil and to open those inner trapdoors in which those detrimental and limiting emotions have accumulated. After all, life needs momentum and the right weight to find its place at the pinnacle of well-being. Catharsis can be of great help to us in this.

I am convinced that it is very important to reflect on what you have experienced.

But now - What Is Catharsis?

It is an emotional release and is linked to a need  we all have - whether we know it, whether we like it or whether we ... how ever you like to call it - but we have to relieve unconscious conflicts. For example, experiencing stress over a work-related situation may cause feelings of frustration and tension. All these conflicts and challenges - like anger, anxiety, fear, trauma, and stress can cause intense and difficult emotions and these feelings will build on each other over time. At a certain point, it feels as if there is so much emotion and turbulences of emotions that it becomes overwhelming. People may even feel as if they are going to 'explode' or 'implode' unless they find a way to release these pent-up angers and emotions.

Rather than venting these feelings inappropriately, the individual may instead release these feelings in another way, such as through physical activity or another stress-relieving activity.

Paths and Ways of Catharsis

By the way I practice each of them - because sometimes one 'path' is more meaningful or just easier to go an a very day.

Talking with someone. A talk with a friend, colleague, or just have somebody's ear / finding a sympathetic ear - and having the opportunity to have a talk about the challenge you are facing, the problem or anger you are facing might spark a moment of insight in which you are able to see how an event from earlier in your life might be contributing to your current patterns of behavior. This emotional release may help you feel better able to face your current dilemma.

Listening to music and the lyric of a song. Music can do so much, it can also often spark moments of great insight. Music can allow you to release emotions in a way that often leaves you feeling restored.

Creating or viewing art. A powerful artwork can stir deep emotions. Creating art can also be a form of release. I even wrote an Article about it in my 'business-blog' about it or related to it.

Exercise. The physical demands of exercise can be a great way to work through strong emotions and release them in a constructive manner. In summer I love to swim (not only in summer most often I start my years with ice-swimming on the 1st of January :-) ) but taking a work alone or with others - often it is not needed to talk a lot to say so much. I hope you understand or I wish you will experience it too.

Expressive writing. Writing can be an effective mental health tool. Expressive writing, a process that involves writing about traumatic or stressful events, may be helpful for gaining insight and relieving stressful emotions.

Final words

Catharsis can play a role in helping people deal with difficult or painful emotions. This emotional release can also be an important therapeutic tool for coping with fear, depression, and anxiety.
If you are coping with difficult emotions, talking to others, friends or to a mental health first aider or a mental health professional can help you to explore different techniques that can lead to catharsis.