Full Idea
I see no need to insist that feelings …must be present at all times whilst you are having an emotion, …but without at least episodes of feeling, of which you can be more or less aware, an experience would not be an emotional one.
Gist of Idea
An emotion needs episodes of feeling, but not continuously
Source
Peter Goldie (The Emotions [2000], 3 'Unreflective')
Book Reference
Goldie,Peter: 'The Emotions' [OUP 2002], p.68
A Reaction
[He cites William James] An odd situation, but it is the same as many chronic illnesses. Presumably because of the actual episodes the person will be aware of the emotion as a background state of potential episodes.