Why We All Need to Practice Emotional First Aid

Psychologist Guy Winch argues we practice better dental hygiene than emotional hygiene—we brush our teeth daily but do nothing to maintain psychological health. He covers common emotional injuries: lonelinessGlossaryLonelinessThe subjective experience of isolation and disconnection from others, which can occur even when surrounded by people. Different from being alone, which is simply a physical state., failure, rejection, and ruminationGlossaryRuminationThe tendency to repetitively think about the causes, consequences, and symptoms of negative emotions, often prolonging and intensifying distress.. He explains how psychological wounds are as real as physical ones and deserve equal attention.