Mindfulness & Wellness

Many of us have felt angry at some point. Some of us are comfortable with the feeling, while others dislike it. Although anger is a valid emotion on its own, anger is sometimes referred to as a secondary emotion. 

So, what do we mean when we say anger is a secondary emotion? Anger can sometimes be the mask that hides our true underlying emotions. Often times, anger is viewed as a less "vulnerable" emotion and thus helps hide other emotions that one may consider make us "vulnerable".  Some of these "vulnerable" emotions can include hurt, disappointment, guilt, shame, sadness, anxiety, rejected, embarrassed, and scared (just to name a few).  

So why is it important to recognize when anger is a secondary emotion? Having this awareness allows us to process the actual emotion (or primary emotion) and helps us better understand ourselves. If we can understand ourselves and our experiences, we are able to communicate better with others (i.e. family, friends, partner, co-workers, etc.). After all, we cannot communicate something we do not know.

For many healthcare students, exams are one of the major sources of stress. Although some level of nervousness can help motivate one to perform well, too much stress can interfere with students' ability to prepare for and perform on exams.

Test anxiety can often consist of cognitive and physical reactions:

Attachment theory was developed by John Bowlby in the 20th century. It is a psychological theory that explains how individuals form and maintain relationships. The research on attachment was first conducted between children and their caregivers.

According to attachment theory, “children develop internal working models of attachment based on the quality of their early relationships with caregivers”, (Moore, 2023). These models of attachment that children develop will later affect their relationships in adulthood with others and will determine how they approach intimacy, trust, and emotional regulation.  The quality of their attachment is determined based on their caregivers’ responsiveness and sensitivity to their needs. Ideally, caregivers will provide a secure base from which a child can explore the world as long as they attend to the child’s needs. If they do not, the child can develop either an anxious, avoidant, or disorganized attachment style.

Although individuals may develop an anxious, avoidant, or disorganized attachment style, a new attachment style can be developed through having positive experiences in relationships and therapy.

For more information, please take a look at the following: 

• Blog: What Is Your Attachment Style? A Guide To The Different Types Of Attachments.
• Book: Attached
• Website: The Attachment Project

Touro University Nevada’s Student Counseling Services has partnered with Aura, a personalized mindfulness and meditation app company, to bring each member of the campus community a free subscription.

The award-winning app offers thousands of mindfulness meditations, life coaching, sleep stories, and psychoeducation from coaches around the world. Aura gives you personalized support to help with stress, anxiety, sleep, personal growth, and more.

How to redeem your free subscription from Aura:

1. Visit the Aura website (https://app.aurahealth.io/redeem/touro).

2. You must use your Touro University Nevada email address.

3. Follow the directions to download the app and log in.