Being influenced by others' negative emotions

Being influenced by negative emotions from others is a common psychological phenomenon, mainly related to empathy, blurred emotional boundaries, stress transmission, insufficient self-regulation, environmental factors, etc. People with high emotional susceptibility are more susceptible to emotional contagion from others, and prolonged exposure to negative emotional environments may lead to anxiety or depression tendencies.

1. Empathy Ability

People with strong empathy abilities will unconsciously absorb the emotions of others, which is particularly evident in professions such as healthcare and education that require high emotional investment. Excessive empathy may lead to alternative trauma, manifested as symptoms such as insomnia and low mood. Establishing emotional buffering mechanisms can help protect mental health, such as distinguishing oneself from others' emotions through mindfulness exercises.

2. Blurred emotional boundaries

Lack of clear psychological boundaries can lead to mistaking others' emotions for one's own feelings, which is common in intimate or family relationships. When a partner continues to complain about work, individuals may experience similar feelings of restlessness. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to train the recognition of emotional ownership and use language descriptions to help distinguish the source of emotions.

3. Stress Transmission

Anxiety from superiors in the workplace can form stress transmission through nonverbal signals such as microexpressions and tone of voice, and this emotional contagion is particularly significant in closed office environments. Regular deep breathing exercises and physical isolation spaces can effectively block the chain of negative emotions.

4. Insufficient self-regulation

When an individual is in a state of fatigue or resource depletion, a decrease in emotional regulation ability can exacerbate external influences. Lack of sleep can reduce the prefrontal cortex's ability to control emotions, making it easier for negative emotions to invade. Regular exercise can enhance emotional resilience, and it is recommended to engage in moderate aerobic exercise every week.

5. Environmental factors

Long term exposure to high-pressure groups can lead to emotional adaptation phenomena. For example, when medical staff face the pain of patients, they may experience strong emotional reactions in the early stages, which may later develop into emotional numbness. Regular participation in art therapy activities can help rebuild emotional balance.

It is recommended to record emotional triggering scenarios in a diary and analyze specific pathways of influence. When experiencing prolonged low mood and decreased interest for more than two weeks, it is necessary to seek professional psychological support. Cultivate a stable lifestyle, ensure high-quality protein and vitamin B intake, and maintain moderate social activity every day. Establishing emotional protection mechanisms does not mean indifference, but rather to maintain empathy more sustainably.