If you’ve ever felt a rush of intense emotion, then you’ve probably also experienced the crash that comes when those emotions gradually become less strong. Although we usually think of exhaustion (精疲力竭) in physical terms, it can also be mental. One of the contributors to mental exhaustion is high-intensity emotions. Too many of these high-intensity emotions, whether they are positive or negative, can lead to burnout.
Psychologists divide emotions into two dimensions, which includes high and low intensity, as well as positive and negative. High-intensity positive emotions include excitement or elation, while low-intensity positive emotions include calmness, or contentment. When it comes to negative emotions, high-intensity emotions include anger, anxiety, and fear, while low-intensity emotions include sadness, boredom, and tiredness.
It’s easy to see how high-intensity negative emotions like anger can be exhausting. What we don’t think about as much is the fact that high intensity positive emotions are also exhausting, although in a way that feels very different.
Excitement, even when it is fun, involves what psychologists call “physiological arousal”-- activation of our sympathetic system. High-intensity positive emotions involve the same physiological arousal as high-intensity negative emotions. Our heart rate increases, and our sweat glands (腺) activate. Because it activates the body’s stress response, excitement can deplete our system when sustained over longer periods. In other words, high intensity -- whether it’s from negative states or positive states- exhausts the body.
About 15-20% of people are thought to be highly sensitive. As they cycle through the highs and lows of life, the increased amount of intensity leaves them more exhausted than others.
This isn’t to say that we should never feel intense emotions. Emotional variety is an essential aspect of life, one that adds a depth and richness that we need. However, what we need to be mindful of is balance. There will be the exciting days, as well as the days when stress and anxiety are what push you through the tough times, but there are other, lower-intensity emotions that will serve us well in many other situations.
12. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 2?
A.The functions of emotions. |
B.The definition of emotions. |
C.The categories of emotions. |
D.The expression of emotions. |
13. What does the underlined word “deplete” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Set off. | B.Build up. | C.Stand for. | D.Burn out. |
14. How can we manage the stress of high-intensity emotions?
A.Enrich our daily lives. |
B.Avoid intense emotions. |
C.Create emotional balance. |
D.Detect the cause of anxiety. |
15. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?
A.Why psychologists are more exhausted |
B.How high-intensity emotions wear us out |
C.Why high-intensity negative emotions are tiring |
D.How psychologists explain the effects of emotions |