I’m 71, so I’ve had a lot of life experience as well as 15 years of psychotherapy, both of which make me a little more self-aware than I might be otherwise. (That and Lexipro and Cymbalta!) When I’m feeling intense emotions, I try to stop and think about what might be making me feel this way, both physically and psychologically. That is often helpful in gaining perspective. It is also very helpful to remember that everything is not about me and to think about what may be going on with people around me. But sometimes one just feels angry or sad, and that’s okay, too!