Driven by negative emotions of others

Being driven by negative emotions from others is a common psychological phenomenon, mainly related to factors such as emotional contagion, empathy, blurred psychological boundaries, stress coping strategies, and self-regulation abilities.

1. Emotional contagion

There is a mirror neuron system in the human brain that unconsciously imitates others' facial expressions and body language, leading to synchronized emotional states. When people around them show anxiety or anger, the individual's facial muscles will imitate the expression slightly, triggering similar emotional experiences through physiological feedback mechanisms. This phenomenon is particularly evident in intimate relationships or collective environments.

2. Empathy Ability

Highly empathetic individuals are more likely to absorb the emotions of others, which is an important ability in social interaction, but excessive empathy can lead to emotional exhaustion. The temporoparietal junction area of some individuals is more active and can quickly recognize emotional changes in others. This trait is common in professions such as healthcare and psychological counseling, and requires specialized emotional isolation training.

3. Blurred psychological boundaries

When the emotional boundaries between oneself and others are unclear, it is easy to internalize negative external emotions as one's own feelings. People who have not established healthy psychological boundaries during their growth process may develop an excessive sense of responsibility or a savior mentality, which is common in individuals with emotional entanglements in their original families. Cognitive behavioral therapy is needed to reshape boundary awareness.

4. Stress coping strategies

When an individual is in a chronic stress state, the regulatory function of the prefrontal cortex decreases, and the ability to filter negative emotions weakens. People who suffer from long-term sleep deprivation or overwork are more susceptible to the influence of others' emotions, manifested as exhaustion of emotional regulation resources. This situation requires priority improvement of their basic physiological state.

5. Self regulatory ability

The lack of emotional regulation strategies can exacerbate the degree of emotional contagion. Individuals who lack techniques such as mindfulness meditation and emotional diaries are more likely to experience emotional instability in situations of group stress. They can enhance their psychological resilience through systematic learning of emotional management skills and seek professional psychological support if necessary.

It is recommended to enhance emotional awareness through regular mindfulness breathing exercises, maintain moderate psychological distance in social interactions, and establish a healthy lifestyle to maintain emotional stability. When emotional distress persists, professional cognitive-behavioral therapy or group counseling can be considered to learn more effective emotional regulation strategies. Daily recording of emotional changes can help identify specific situations that are easily influenced and prepare psychologically in advance. Cultivating stable interests and hobbies can also help establish emotional buffer zones and reduce unnecessary empathy consumption.