Understanding Emotional Disgust

When you hear someone say, “That’s disgusting,” you know what they mean, but you might not be able to pin down exactly what that emotion is in terms of a definition. You know that the person made a negative judgment about a situation, object, or even a person. However, the exact emotion is one of those that can be difficult to understand.

Disgust is a basic emotion, much like sadness, anger, fear, happiness, or joy. It is believed that this is one of the earlier emotions to have developed and that it played an important role in human survival. Experiencing the emotion of disgust over rotten food or contaminated water probably saved the lives of our ancient ancestors more than once. However, now, we might be using that emotion more than necessary.

Visible Disgust

We show visible disgust by certain facial expressions or body language. A person might curl their lips, give a sideways glance, or cross their arms. Absolute disgust takes it to an entirely different level. This might develop a true revulsion or loathing. This level of disgust is when things become problematic.

When it comes to how to explain the emotion disgust, there are certain things that most can agree are disgusting. Most people can find common ground that touching chewing gum left by someone else on the underside of the table is disgusting and should be avoided if possible. This is quite different than feeling disgusted over someone’s weight.

It is natural to be disgusted by things that could harm us, but if you find yourself developing absolute disgust for your spouse, co-worker, or just someone you know, then it creates stress in your body. This can then develop into emotional problems and physical pain.

When you can’t let go of the disgust and spend considerable time dwelling on it, then it is a sign that disgust has gone too far. If you fall into this category, then it is time to call Christina Kim to help you release the feelings of disgust and start living your life again.

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