Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist, explains that the biochemical lifespan of an emotion is roughly 90 seconds. According to her, when we experience an emotion, the physiological response—triggered by a stimulus—lasts about 90 seconds in the body before it dissipates. This process includes the release of chemicals like adrenaline or cortisol in response to a situation.
However, what often happens is that thoughts or mental narratives can prolong the emotion beyond those initial 90 seconds. If we continue to dwell on the triggering event or keep thinking about it, the emotional experience can be sustained or re-triggered. In that sense, while the initial emotional surge is brief, the way we respond mentally to the emotion can either allow it to pass or make it last much longer.
This understanding is valuable from an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, as it highlights the role of self-awareness and regulation in managing emotions. Recognizing that the core emotional experience is transient can help people avoid getting stuck in a loop of emotional reactivation.
Unfortunately, after, “there’s a 90-second chemical process that happens in the body,” the doctor adds, “after that, any remaining emotional response is just the person choosing to stay in that emotional loop.” This can be seen as oversimplified, especially from a neurobiological perspective. Emotions, especially in the context of trauma or chronic stress, aren’t purely a matter of conscious choice. Many factors, like nervous system dysregulation, past experiences, and deeply ingrained patterns of thought and behavior, can trap someone in an emotional loop without their awareness or direct control.
From an IPNB lens, the idea that we “choose” our emotional state ignores the complexities of how our brain, body, and environment interact. For many people, especially those who have experienced trauma, emotions may get stuck or re-triggered involuntarily due to the body’s protective mechanisms. The nervous system can respond to perceived threats long after the initial stimulus is gone, and this isn’t something we consciously choose—it’s more about how our system has learned to respond over time.
A more nuanced perspective would acknowledge that while emotions do have a short physiological lifespan, the mind-body connection and previous experiences influence how long those emotions linger or get reactivated. It’s less about choice and more about learning how to work with the nervous system to support emotional regulation and healing.
When someone dissociates during a 90-second emotional experience, the natural processing of that emotion is interrupted. Instead of moving through the body’s typical physiological cycle of emotional activation and resolution, dissociation blocks or disrupts the experience, preventing the emotion from being fully felt or processed.
What Happens When We Dissociate During an Emotional Experience?
Dissociation often results in emotional numbness or a sense of detachment, where the person feels disconnected from their body or the emotion itself. The body’s natural response to stress or overwhelm is cut off, leaving the emotional energy unprocessed. This can lead to the emotion being suppressed or frozen, rather than being felt, expressed, and resolved within that 90-second window.
The emotion remains stored in the body, potentially leading to long-term emotional or physical effects. Unprocessed emotions can accumulate and contribute to a sense of inner tension, unexplained emotional reactivity, or even chronic stress-related symptoms.
Over time, if dissociation becomes a survival adaptation, it can lead to nervous system dysregulation, where the body can no longer cycle through emotions in a healthy way. The nervous system may remain in a constant state of either hypoarousal (numbness, detachment) or hyperarousal (anxiety, agitation), preventing access to emotional regulation and resilience.
From an IPNB view, emotions are meant to be experienced and integrated into our neurobiological system. Dissociation interrupts this integrative process, disconnecting the brain and body from the experience. Without the ability to feel and regulate emotions in real-time, the body and nervous system are left in a state of incomplete processing, which can contribute to chronic stress, trauma responses, and long-term emotional difficulties.
While the average emotion may only last 90 seconds, dissociation can prevent that natural emotional resolution, leading to a build-up of unprocessed emotional energy and further dysregulation of the nervous system. Healing involves reconnecting with the body and learning to stay present with emotions safely and manageable, allowing the nervous system to complete the emotional cycle.
This post includes content generated by ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. The AI-generated content has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and relevance.
