If you've ever put on a brave face to get through a rough day until you can get home and drown in a bottle of wine, you'll know how draining it is. But a new study has found letting yourself be in a bad mood can actually help you out in the long run.
Researchers from the University of California looked at the link between emotional acceptance and psychological health among 1,300 adults, finding those who resisted their negative emotions ended up feeling more stressed than those who embraced their blahs.
Over 1,000 participants filled out surveys rating how strongly they agreed with statements like "I tell myself I shouldn't be feeling the way that I'm feeling." Those who didn't feel bad about their negative emotions showed higher levels of wellbeing than those who didn't accept their lousy moods.
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Then, 150 participants were asked to deliver a three minute video speech on their communication skills and qualifications as part of a staged job interview, and were asked to rate their emotions afterwards. Researchers found the people in the group who avoided negative feelings reported feeling more distress than those who didn't.
In a final study, over 200 people were asked to journal about their most demanding experiences over a two week period, and then were surveyed again six months later. Those who avoided a case of the sads reported more mood disorder symptoms than their peers.
"It turns out that how we approach our own negative emotional reactions is really important for our overall wellbeing," study lead author Brett Ford said in a statement. "People who accept these emotions without judging or trying to change them are able to cope with their stress more successfully."
The takeaway? Feel it all - the good and the not so good. You're allowed to feel out of sorts, sometimes. Just grab some Cadburys and carry on.