Your emotions are kind of like  your own broadcast system, telling you how you're feeling  in different situations.

You may feel fear during a scary movie or  joy when someone you love smiles at you.

But sometimes emotions can feel intense.

And you may not feel like you  have any control over them.

When you lose control of your emotions, you may do or say something you'll regret later.

But you can learn how to manage  your emotional reactions.

Here are five ways to do that.

One: Take a moment to just focus on breathing.

Are you feeling anxiety  because of a big job interview?

Focusing on your breath can help you slow down so you can think calmly about  how to respond to an emotion.

To do this, try to find a quiet place  where you can sit for a few minutes and just notice how the air  feels in your lungs and chest.

Two: Name your emotions.  But try not to judge them.

Just think about the physical  sensations you're having, like a faster heartbeat or a  feeling of heat in your face.

Let's say you're feeling guilt about  forgetting your friend's birthday.

Instead of replaying that moment in your head, try to observe and label your  feelings without acting on them.

Three: Find a way to express  your emotions creatively.

You can write about them in a  journal, draw pictures, or play music.

Did some good news trigger your urge to go  on a shopping spree that you couldn't afford?

Finding a way to express your emotions will  help you recognize those different feelings and learn to understand them.

And maybe that will help you avoid reacting  to them in a way you'll regret later.

Four: Try to think of your emotions  as things that are temporary.

Maybe you're feeling discouraged  about the way things are right now.

Remind yourself that your  feelings will come and go.

Try to imagine your emotions as a  puffy cloud drifting across the sky or a leaf floating down a stream,  here for a moment before moving along.

Five: Act the opposite of  how you'd normally react.

Do you usually honk or shout at  someone who cuts you off in traffic?

The next time that happens, see if you can  try the reverse of what you'd normally do.

Smile or wave, and just let  that person get in front of you.

This isn't about faking your feelings.

It's about learning how to shift your  reactions when you're in emotional situations.

Remember, having emotions means you're human.

It's okay to have feelings, and  it's okay to let yourself feel them.

But learning how to react when those  feelings come up can help you stay on course.