Listening to my body: A brief guide to understanding the connection between sensations and feelings

Emotions aren’t only felt in the mind. Our bodies react to our environments just like our brains do, and it can be helpful to?connect emotions?with body sensations so we can better understand what’s going on within us. Here,? Laura Miles , Gesher's Art Therapist shares her tips and resources for supporting young people to understand the connection between sensations and feelings.

What is Sensation?

Sensation refers to the process by which?information?is taken and interpreted by the human brain. To take in information, the human body is equipped with five senses, which we are taught from childhood: sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. Even from a young age, we know to use our senses to investigate, enjoy and experience the world around us.?

What is Feeling?

Feelings can be understood as mental experiences of body states. Feelings can be of such diversity ranging from love,?happiness, and contentment?to anger, bitterness and even rage. They alert us as to how we feel. If a person is feeling depressed, this feeling makes us aware of our situation. Feelings are connected to so many aspects such as our?emotions, thoughts, moods and even sensations. Psychologists believe that feelings are often very?subjective. They can be influenced by the memories, personal experiences, and beliefs that people have.

Learning How to Connect Emotions and Body Sensations

Teaching students that emotions are more than abstract concepts and can be perceived as concrete bodily experiences can help them connect with their body and emotions more confidently. By practising identifying and naming what they are experiencing, they can better figure out what they need.

Below are a few strategies and activities intended on helping children develop an awareness of what their bodies are telling them. A list of sensations and feeling words is also provided below to give students the language to describe what they are experiencing.?

I recommend reading the book with your child:?Listening to my body: A brief guide to understanding the connection between sensations and feelings?by Gabi Garcia, from which some of the information and inspiration in this article is taken.?

For three practical ways, you can support a child to listen to their body click here and you'll be taken to Laura's longer piece on our website.

References:

Books:

• Listening to my body: A brief guide to understanding the connection between sensations and feelings?by Gabi Garcia

Websites:?

• What are Emotions, Feelings and Sensations? Composite or Hierarchical models? (https://emotionallyvague.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/what-are-emotions-feelings-and-sensations-composite-or-hierarchical-models/)
• 100 Art Therapy Ideas and Prompts (https://www.alternativetomeds.com/blog/art-therapy-ideas/)
• Learning How to Connect Emotions and Body Sensations (https://www.hope-wellness.com/blog/learning-how-to-connect-emotions-and-body-sensations)
• Difference Between Sensation and Feeling?(https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-sensation-and-vs-feeling/)