This blog answers emails from readers. Today’s email comes from Jennifer in Kansas City.

Jenifer asks:Dear Ellen Anmuth, Psychotherapist: I find myself feeling upset lately. Do you have any advice? Thanks very much.

Ellen Anmuth, MS, MSW, LCSW, Psychotherapist replies:

Dear Jennifer: Your question is universal. “Getting Upset” is a common phenomenon. By “upset”, do you mean  that you feel angry, sad, or afraid? Do you experience behavioral changes, such as sleep disturbances, over-eating, not eating enough, yelling at other people, using drugs or alcohol? Here are 3 tips for dealing with “feeling upset”.

Tip #1: Look inward, and try to name your feelings. By “Upset”, do you mean that you feel sad, angry, afraid, or all  3? Sometimes, when people feel angry, it could be that they are feeling sad, and are not allowing those feelings to be acknowledged. Similarly, people can feel sad, when they are denying feelings of anger. There is an expression, “what we resist, persists”. One way to manage “upset feelings” is to isolate the feelings, and connect with them. By allowing our true feelings to be expressed, we gain some control over them.

Tip # 2: Notice what events may have occurred in your life in the past year. Did someone you love get ill, or die? Have you had a relationship breakup? Are you having financial problems? Is your health changing? Some of us try to cope with sadness or loss by minimizing these events. It is better to acknowledge the events, and work the feelings of loss through with a friend or a licensed psychotherapist.

Tip #3: Look back to your family of origin history and your childhood. In adulthood, seemingly benign events may trigger unresolved issues of childhood. For example, if you had a very controlling mother or father, a boss at work may trigger some unresolved feelings from years ago. Feelings of helplessness or powerlessness in the workplace could result in depression, anxiety or anger.

Hopefully, exploring these three areas will help turn the general concept of “feeling upset” into a situation in which you can more clearly define and describe the real issues that need to be addressed. This leads to a feeling of control and well-being when a breakthrough in understanding and coping can be achieved.