We’ve all likely experienced and observed that verbalizing, through discussion, writing in a journal, or similar means, seems to lessen emotional intensity. The effect is confirmed at a neurological level by a psychologists in a UCLA study.
The study found that introducing language along with contexts that trigger emotions, such as anger, in the amygdala, triggers increases in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex region along with a decrease in amygdala activity. Since the amygdala participates extensively in emotional experience, and the particular prefrontal region is associated with language and behavior control, it seems this is a use of language processing that tames emotion. Separate studies, referred to in the article, show similar effects from mindfulness practices, reducing the intensity of emotional signals.
This article lead to our experimentation with labeling release (giving a word to the thought you are releasing) in certain exercises. While meditation status suggests passively letting thoughts go, in some cases, we add step of assigning a quick descriptive placeholder word to such thoughts – especially when they are recurrent patterns.
University of California – Los Angeles (2007, June 22). Putting Feelings Into Words Produces Therapeutic Effects In The Brain. ScienceDaily.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070622090727.htm