Psychology is involved in multiple areas of daily life, including motivation and emotion, stress and health, as well as psychological therapies. These three aspects are interconnected with my personal experiences. Although psychology is commonly linked to therapists and mental disorders, its impact extends beyond that and affects everyone to some degree. Specifically, the field of motivation and emotion has a direct influence on my own life.
Thirst compels people to search for a beverage, urging them to act. Emotion, on the other hand, relates to an individual’s sentiments towards a person or potentially dangerous circumstance. The connection between motivation and emotion exists because motivation is crucial in executing an action, while emotion determines one’s attitude towards that action.
Throughout my high school years, I lacked motivation due to the lack of challenge. I effortlessly aced exams without studying. However, once college began, my mindset shifted. I maintained my old habits of avoiding study sessions, neglecting homework assignments, and procrastinating on vital projects until the final moments. Eventually, it dawned on me that college demands a significantly higher level of dedication compared to high school.
The transformation of my attitude towards school occurred when I encountered a challenging situation that motivated me to give my best effort. Instead of dreading school, I began to find enjoyment in it. This change in my motivation and emotions towards education took place during my transition from high school to college-level courses. This personal experience demonstrates the relevance of motivation and emotion within the field of psychology. Additionally, psychology applies to my life through its understanding of the relationship between stress and health. Stress refers to our emotional and physical reactions to challenging or potentially harmful circumstances.
An instance of stress can be feeling anxious and having difficulty sleeping the night before a final exam, particularly if it necessitates scoring 90% to maintain an A in the course. Stress has the potential to affect our well-being by causing an elevation in heart rate and blood pressure, among other factors. In cases of prolonged extreme stress, individuals may eventually experience physical collapse and inability to function. Around one year ago, I was involved in a severe car accident when my large truck overturned about 4 or 5 times while traveling at approximately 50 miles per hour.
I found myself stranded, anxiously waiting for help about 30 minutes away from the nearest town. It took a tedious 40 minutes for any assistance to arrive, and nearly an hour for the ambulance to reach me. While I waited, consumed by fear, thoughts of impending death plagued my mind. My left eye was completely swollen shut and my right arm had a severe 6-inch gash, leaving blood everywhere. The stress I felt was overwhelming, causing shallow and rapid breathing as I endured this agonizing state for over half an hour. Even after leaving the hospital, my stress levels remained remarkably high.
Being alone during my ordeal significantly limited my abilities. I had to endure having my arm and face sutured, as well as going through facial reconstructive surgery, which caused immense pain. This led to a feeling of powerlessness as both my physical health deteriorated and my emotional well-being suffered greatly. Furthermore, the realization that my body would never be the same added more stress. The accident’s combination of physical and emotional strain impacted both aspects of my health, highlighting the connection between stress and overall well-being in my life. Psychological therapies also played a role in addressing these personal experiences.
The aim of physiological therapies is to improve individuals’ everyday functioning. These therapies can benefit anyone, irrespective of whether they have a psychological issue. Having a trustworthy therapist to talk to can be highly beneficial for anyone. When I was younger, I constantly felt irritable and stressed. I often felt inadequate compared to others, but my behavior seemed to portray arrogance. During that time, I was part of a Select baseball team with a strict coach. We practiced for three hours after school on weekdays, leading to overwhelming stress and lack of time for other activities, which contributed significantly to my stress. Initially, I had doubts that seeing a therapist would be helpful as a child. Furthermore, I was afraid of my friends mocking me if they found out about my therapy sessions. However, once I started meeting with him occasionally, I realized that I could trust him with anything and talk about any topic openly. Over time, I even started looking forward to my therapy sessions.
I am certain that if I hadn’t visited this therapist, my life would have taken a significantly different path. This therapist supported me in comprehending and managing the challenges surrounding me. The presence of a trustworthy person to confide in was crucial, as it aided me in handling the tumultuous events occurring in my life. Psychological therapy, the branch of psychology that has made the greatest impact on my life, was instrumental in my journey. Psychology extends beyond therapy and can be relevant to every individual’s life.
Psychology has various applications in my life, including motivation and emotion, stress and health, and psychological therapy. It is a diverse field that offers connections to every individual’s life. By studying psychology, I have gained understanding of emotions and feelings. Reflecting on the integration of psychology into daily life reveals the significant impact of psychological principles on the world.
