[neilep (OP)]

In my never ending quest to discover all knowledge I have recently experienced many emotions[].but what are they ? I know you can apply names to many like, love, anger, fear, grief, etc but is there an all pupose definition? As I was yet again pondering the cosmos last night(not just the big one outside my window, but the one inside my head) it dawned on me that emotions are different from rational cognitive thought, different from pereceived info via our senses, and from the storing of info ie our memory, yet, (as I was feeling emotional[]) our emotions do interact with all these mental functions. So what triggers emotions ? how/why does our body and mind respond once these emotions have been triggered ? and does this physical and mental response further colour the way we experience emotions ?………..and does an emotion that persists for a long time , then become a mood ? For instance today, my font is in a purple mood[]

Your thoughts, emotions and moody responses are respectfully requested.


'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Donnah]

Let me see now, which one of my personalities should answer you today?  E-motion must be based on e-strogen in women.  I'm still looking for a seat belt on this ride.

[bezoar]

Personally, I think it's all biochemical.

[neilep (OP)]

Phew !!..I'm lust releived to get a reply !!!!..I was getting all emotional and moody cos I thought I'd posed a silly question, or too many in one topic. I have no idea myself, I'm not involved in the medical/biological/psychological etc etc  'industry' in any way..(though quite often a client of it :-)...I personally think that there is (yet) no definitive description that defines emotions. If it's all biochemical then would that not suggest Nancy that we have no form of control over these feelings ?...because to some degree, are we not capable of asserting mental authority upon emotions....and yet, I agree with you that there must be some form of bio chemical reaction going on......gonna go sulkypoos the rest of the day now !!!

Donnah, make sure you remove all sharp objects....enjoy the ride[)][]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Donnah]

I agree that it's bio chemical.  When I suffered with depression I would get a feeling like the blood in my arms turned had to acid (it burned) and I knew I was going to crash.  Interestingly, back when I drank alcohol I would get a similar feeling in my arms after a few drinks.  Also thoughts that seemed perfectly rational when I had a brain full of mercury, seem ludicrous now.  

The trick is to control our body chemistry.

[bezoar]

Well, there's an interplay and I think it's kind of like the pain cycle.  You know, you have an injury, you get a prostaglandin release, it gets inflammed, you have pain, your muscles spasm, you release more prostaglandin, you have more inflammation, you get more pain, more muscle spasm, etc., etc., etc.  I think you emotions trigger neurohormones, which create emotions, which trigger neurohormones, or vice versa.  Who knows which comes first?  I do think it's extremely important to think positive, and depressed people get sick more often than happy people.  Depression does lower your white cell count, as does stress.  That being said, I think I'm going to go get a glass of wine and medicate my stress.