Still, all in all, Kross says
venting is a good thing
, helping us cope. If we can get past the letting off steam part, we can feel better in the long run and keep our relationships strong, too. “Venting serves some function,” he says. “It has benefits for the self in terms of satisfying our social and emotional needs.
Is venting counterproductive?
Although venting is frequently viewed as
cathartic
, in that it can lead to substantial emotional release, if it’s done with the wrong person(s) or with too much vehemence, it can also backfire.
How do you vent healthy?
- Take deep breaths. …
- Recite a comforting mantra. …
- Try visualization. …
- Mindfully move your body. …
- Check your perspective. …
- Express your frustration. …
- Defuse anger with humor. …
- Change your surroundings.
When does venting become toxic?
For sensitive people, a healthier way to express anger is through venting, whereas
dumping
is toxic and can traumatize and overwhelm us. For instance, if your spouse wants to vent, ask him or her to make a formal request by saying, “I have a request. I need to vent about an issue.
Is venting actually healthy?
Research suggests that letting off steam, even in its most harmless forms, is not an effective way to control your anger. … While you may temporarily feel better, the act of venting can lead you to have
more difficulty
with your anger down the road.
Is it bad to vent to friends?
While
it’s fine to vent to friends and family on occasion
, going overboard can put a strain on your relationships, tire friends out, and make others feel overwhelmed. “If you want to get a sense of how your venting affects people, ask them,” Karen R.
Why do I feel bad after venting?
But it actually creates more stress “because it
keeps arousal levels high, aggressive thoughts active in memory
, and angry feelings alive,” Bushman said. “People say that venting feels good, but the good feeling doesn’t last, and it only reinforces aggressive impulses,” Bushman told MyHealthNewsDaily.
Does venting make you angrier?
Why
venting will make you even angrier
Since the time of Freud, a wealth of research has been published debunking his theories of anger management. … Venting is essentially rehashing our anger and frustration, and thus it would make sense that ranting about something that made us angry would only make our anger worse.
What can I do instead of venting?
- 11 things to do instead of venting at work. …
- Don’t hit send. …
- Count to 10–or if you’re really angry, to 100–in your head. …
- Look at pictures of others being loved or cared for. …
- Breathe deeply. …
- Listen to calming music. …
- Turn off your phone or computer. …
- Read a nonviolent book.
Are you done venting meaning?
When you vent,
you let something out
, whether it’s hot air or your feelings. If you vent your feelings, you let out a strong and sometimes angry emotion and just say what you think. You might vent your rage when your brother once again gets out of doing his chores. You also might vent something to air it out.
Does venting reduce anger?
According to the catharsis theory, venting emotions, specifically anger,
helps reducing angry feelings and consequently aggressive behavior
.
How can I vent my anger without hurting anyone?
- Throw or break something (safely). via GIPHY. …
- Scream – in private. via GIPHY. …
- Sing it out. via GIPHY. …
- Dance it out. via GIPHY. …
- Do a tough workout. via GIPHY. …
- Journal. via GIPHY. …
- Draw or paint. via GIPHY. …
- Change your surroundings. via GIPHY.
Is it good to let your anger out?
It’s healthy to vent and let it out
. Fact: While it’s true that suppressing and ignoring anger is unhealthy, venting is no better. Anger is not something you have to “let out” in an aggressive way in order to avoid blowing up. In fact, outbursts and tirades only fuel the fire and reinforce your anger problem.
What to do when someone keeps venting to you?
Let them vent their feelings and when they finish,
pick any of their words that had a lot of emotion attached
. These can be words such as “Never,” “Screwed up,” or any other words spoken with high inflection. Then reply with, “Say more about “never” (or “screwed up,” etc.) That will help them drain even more.
When is it okay to vent?
If you need to get something off your chest that is overwhelming you, distracting you, hurting you, or eating away at your mind
, it can be okay to vent.
What is the difference between venting and emotional dumping?
Venting Versus Dumping
They are open to solutions for the matter, and the venting is usually centered around one specific issue. Dumping feels more toxic than venting, and the
person receiving the emotional dumping walks away feeling overwhelmed from the interaction
.
