Everything we do in life is guided by our feelings and emotions, whether positive or negative. How to distinguish a feeling from an emotion? What characterizes the main feelings that cross us? Answers.

We think, wrongly, that feelings and emotions refer to the same thing, but in reality they are two different notions. 

Emotion is an intense emotional state which manifests itself in a strong mental and or physical disturbance (cries, tears, bursts of laughter, tension …) which prevents us from reacting in a reasonable and appropriate manner to the event that caused it. . Emotion is something so strong that it tends to overwhelm us and make us lose our means. She is a transient.

Feeling is the awareness of an emotional state. Like emotion, it is an emotional state, but unlike it, it is built on mental representations, takes hold in the individual and his feelings are less intense. Another difference is that the feeling is generally directed towards a specific element (a situation, a person…), while the emotion may not have a well-defined object.

Feelings are therefore emotions made aware by our brain and which last over time. Thus, hatred is a feeling fueled by anger (emotion), admiration is a feeling fueled by joy (emotion), love is a feeling generated by many different emotions (attachment, tenderness, desire…).

The feeling of love

This is without a doubt the most difficult feeling to define because it is impossible to describe precisely. Love is characterized by a number of physical feelings and emotions. It is the consequence of intense physiological and psychic sensations which are repeated and which all have one thing in common: they are pleasant and addictive.

Emotions such as joy, physical desire (when it comes to carnal love), excitement, attachment, tenderness, and many more go hand in hand with love. The emotions aroused by love are seen physically: the heart rate accelerates in the presence of the loved one, the hands become sweaty, the face relaxes (smile on the lips, tender gaze…).

The friendly feeling

Like love, the friendly feeling is very strong. Indeed, it manifests itself in attachment and joy. But they differ on several points. Love can be one-sided, while friendship is a mutual feeling, that is, shared by two people who are not from the same family. Also, in friendship, there is no physical attraction and sexual desire. Finally, while love is irrational and can strike without warning, friendship is built over time based on trust, confidence, support, honesty and commitment.

The feeling of guilt

Guilt is a feeling that results in anxiety, stress, and a form of physical and mental agitation. This is a normal reflex that occurs after behaving badly. Guilt shows that the individual who feels it is empathetic and cares about others and the consequences of their actions.

The feeling of abandonment

The feeling of abandonment can have serious consequences if it is suffered in childhood because it can generate emotional dependence in adulthood. This feeling arises when, as a child, an individual has been neglected or unloved by one of his two parents or a loved one. When the wound has not been healed or even made aware, the feeling of abandonment is permanent and influences the relational choices, especially love, of the person who suffers from it. Concretely, the feeling of abandonment translates into the constant fear of being abandoned and a strong need for love, attention and affection.

The feeling of loneliness

The feeling of loneliness often generates suffering linked to the absence of stimulation and exchange with others. It can be accompanied by a feeling of abandonment, rejection or exclusion on the part of others, but also a loss of meaning in life.

The feeling of belonging

Being recognized and accepted in a group is very important for any individual. This sense of belonging generates confidence, self-esteem and helps us to define ourselves as an individual. Without interactions with others, we would not be able to know how we react to this or that event or how we behave with the people around us. Without others, our emotions could not be expressed. More than a feeling, belonging is a need for human beings because it greatly contributes to our well-being.