An Electronic Mental Health Newsletter from Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D., P.A. & Associates Volume 18, Number 2
Frustration is a common emotional response when things don’t go our way or when we can’t get what we want. It is directly correlated with stress and is experienced by everyone at some time. The more important the goal we cannot achieve is, the greater our frustration.
Frustration manifests through being angry and can lead to aggressive behavior, depression, loss of confidence, nightmares, relationship problems, and health issues including a higher risk of heart disease, especially among women.
Coping with frustration is a basic life skill. As the world becomes more complicated, we live with greater frustration every day. If we don’t manage it, we can have serious emotional and physical consequences.
Our e-Letter this month focuses on frustration and understanding what causes it, how we react, and how we can deal with it.
Dr. Kimmel’s blog is about Bicycling and can be found here.
We hope you find the enclosed information helpful and interesting. We also thank you for reading our e-Letters and for the positive and compassionate comments we have received.
COPING WITH FRUSTRATION!
We are living in a world full of frustration. Despite how good our lives may actually be, we often find ourselves getting angry when we can’t get our way. We are caught up in consumerism and constantly wanting more. When we can’t get it, we can get angry.
Frustration is that emotional response that often arises when we encounter challenges or difficulties in achieving our goals or getting our way. Simply, it is an obstruction to reaching our goals.
When we set expectations and they go unreached, we become frustrated in response. Frustrated thinking usually consists of statements that include the words “should,” “must,” and “ought.”
Frustration leads to feelings of anger, disappointment, or agitation and can come from both internal and external sources.
Common causes of frustration include:
1. Daily hassles like traffic jams, long lines, or technology glitches,
2. Finances such as debt, unexpected expenses, or financial setbacks
3. Relationship issues involving unresolved conflicts, unmet emotional needs, or feeling unheard
4. Stressful world events such as global crises, political turmoil, natural disasters, health pandemics, and wars without end
5. Work-Related Problems including job dissatisfaction, unrealistic workloads, office politics, or unmet career aspirations
6. Waiting for tech support or customer service
Continued frustration causes a high degree of stress which can impact our physical health in the following ways:
1. Increased heart rate and tension
2. Compromised immune system
3. Muscle tension and fatigue
4. Headaches and migraines
5. Digestive issues
6. Elevated blood pressure
7. Sleep disturbances
8. Impaired ability to think clearly
Depression can also occur when people start to believe that life is full of constant frustration, and they are powerless. They may give up and withdraw, becoming pessimistic and hopeless.
The bad news is that in the complex, imperfect world we live in, we will be frustrated. The good news is that you can change how you react to it.
Being able to deal successfully with frustration is a basic life skill. It is very important to develop it, especially early in life, so that you can control frustration rather frustration having control over you.
We offer the following information:
COPING WITH FRUSTRATION!
It’s so easy to lose faith and become lost in all of the politics of the world.
That’s why we need the arts. To sublimate our frustration and anger
into something beautiful… Kamand Koori
WHAT TO KNOW!
- Frustration is a very common emotional response when things don’t go our way or when we can’t get what we want
- It is directly correlated with stress and is experienced by everyone at some time
- The more important the goal we cannot achieve is, the greater our frustration
- Frustration manifests through being angry and can lead to aggressive behavior, depression, loss of confidence, nightmares, relationship problems, and health issues
- Frustrated behavior can be seen in road rage, protests, intense arguments, and passive-aggressive behaviors
- Frustration can also be positive when it motivates a person to achieve or make a change
- Internal causes of frustration include not achieving our personal goals, wants, and needs
- External causes of frustration include being blocked by something outside us like a traffic jam, having to wait in a line, computer glitches, waiting for tech support, etc.
- Feelings of frustration are promoted by the news and advertising media in order to maintain viewers and sell product
- The ability to manage frustration links directly to happiness and enjoyment but can often leads to a sense of powerlessness and hopelessness
- Frustration often leads to escapist and addictive behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse, overeating and weight gain, gambling, videogaming, etc.
- Prolonged frustration leads to stress and depression which not only can cause fatigue, anxiety, headaches, etc. but also pessimism and hopelessness
- Frustration can also accumulate; several frustrating situations, one after the other, can lead a person to aggressively act out and/or develop major health problems
- The ability to manage frustration is directly linked to being positive and happy
- Since life is full of frustration, one can never truly eliminate it, but skills and strategies can be developed to minimize it and avoid engaging in self-destructive behaviors
WHAT TO DO!
- Do not take frustration personally and accept that it is a way of life that can be managed
- Realize that you may not be able to change the frustrating situation, but you do have control and can change how you react to it
- Practice deep breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness exercises to stay calm
- Journal your thoughts and feelings and review them
- Set boundaries and lower your expectations for the situation
- Change your perspective and recognize that what you thought was so important may not actually be that important
- Change what you can, accept what you can’t
- Consider getting professional help if your level of frustration does not decrease, you engage in aggressive behaviors when frustrated, or your frustration affects your relationships and other areas of your life
WE PROVIDE IN-OFFICE AND TELEHEALTH THERAPY TO HELP!
Call us at 954 755-2885 or email us at [email protected]
Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D. P.A. and Associates
5551 N University Drive, Suite 202
Coral Springs FL 33067
As always, we are interested in your thoughts. If you would like to respond to this e-Letter, email [email protected] and we will publish your comments next month.
Till March…
The information provided in this electronic newsletter is not a substitute for professional treatment. It is the opinions of the writers and is provided solely for educational purposes. For mental health care, seek a qualified professional.
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Copyright © 2024 by Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D. P.A. and Associates.
