The Feelings Book (revised) - Dr. Lynda Madison American Girl

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might bounce!

      Blushing Beauty

      You may get red in the face when

      your moods run high, especially if

      you’re fair-skinned. But anyone’s face

      can feel hot in reaction to strong

      emotions, even if it doesn’t turn a

      few shades of red.

      Casting a Dizzy Spell

      Breathing too quickly can pump too

      much oxygen to your brain. Not

      breathing often enough can pump

      too little. Either one can leave you

      feeling dizzy or faint.

      When you experience one of these

      physical reactions, don’t freak out.

      It’s normal. And it shouldn’t stop

      you from trying new things, whether

      you’re giving a speech, dancing in

      public, or saying hi to that new girl

      in class (imagine the emotions she

      must be feeling!).

      Ka-THUMP! Ka-THUMP!

      Has your heart ever beaten so hard

      and fast, you thought the whole class

      would hear it? Strong emotions can

      even make you feel as though your

      heart were climbing up into your

      throat.

      Fight or Flight?

      When you’re upset, your heart beats faster and you

      start breathing more quickly. It’s your body’s way of

      responding to protect you.

      That thumping heart is part of your body’s “fight-or-flight”

      reaction, and it goes back to when humans first walked the

      earth.

      Suppose you were a cave girl, just hanging out one day

      with your cave friends, when a fierce and hungry cave bear

      charged into camp. Your body’s automatic responses would

      help you either tangle with the bear (fight) or run for your

      life (take flight). If you didn’t do one or the other, you’d

      probably get eaten.

      In order to fight or run away, your body would need to

      pump more blood to your heart (thus the pounding feeling).

      It would need to get your legs ready to run (thus the tight

      muscles). Your breathing might slow down at first so that you

      could be quiet and size up the situation. Then you’d probably

      breathe faster than normal, supplying extra oxygen to your

      body. You might sweat and get goose bumps in order to keep

      cool.

      You can have a fight-or-flight reaction even when there isn’t

      any serious danger, such as when you have to give a speech or

      when you hear bad news. Your body may react the same way

      you would have reacted as a cave girl, even though no hungry

      bear is sizing you up for lunch.

      Why Do You Cry?

      Ever laugh till your sides split? Watch a sad movie?

      Goof up badly on your history test? There’s a reason

      any of these things can leave you in tears.

      Crying is an outward sign that you feel strongly about some-

      thing—usually not getting something you want or getting

      something you don’t want. Everybody cries, even grown-ups

      and boys. Sometimes those tears just have to roll.

      Tears serve a purpose. When you cry because of your

      emotions (not because of chopped onions), your tears

      release certain chemicals in your body. Scientists think

      these chemicals might actually make you feel better.

      So it’s OK to cry. Honest. Crying is a normal reaction to strong

      emotions. But some people cry so often that it becomes a

      problem. They get their feelings hurt easily and may think

      others don’t like them.

      When I’m sad, I cry. Crying is a way to express your feelings.

      You feel better after it’s all over. I also talk out loud to

      myself so the sadness doesn’t stay as a lump in my stomach.

      Katherine, Michigan

      Crying shouldn’t replace talking about your feelings or taking

      actions that might help a situation. Tears just aren’t the same

      as words. If you want people to understand what you are

      feeling or to know how to help, take a few deep breaths—

      and start talking.

      Feeling Out of Control

      Sometimes, before you even know what’s going on,

      you can find yourself feeling angry, weepy, or tingly with

      excitement. That’s parts of your body responding to your

      brain releasing hormones.

      Yikes! Sometimes it seems as if you can’t control your feel-

      ings. That’s because feelings are often instantaneous reactions

      caused by your brain triggering chemicals called hormones

      that course through your body.

      The amygdala (ah-mig-duh-luh) is a small part of your brain

      that scientists think is responsible for the way you feel. These

      two little almond-shaped groups of cells react automatically

      to situations that your brain thinks are funny, sad, or disturbing

      in some way, such as someone jumping out at you in the dark

      or a balloon popping. Whether you’re laughing or crying at a

      movie

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