PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF SUPPRESSED EMOTIONS
As a part of being a human; every person will experience emotions. Anger, sadness, fear, shame, frustration and disappointment are all common feelings that play an important role in our daily life. When people have a hard time expressing or accepting these feelings, they may be struggling with suppressed emotions. Suppressed emotions can manifest in various ways, including behavioural changes, physical symptoms, and psychological issues. However, it is important to recognize that suppressing emotions is not a healthy coping mechanism. In fact, it can have negative consequences for both mental and physical wellbeing.
Sometimes, individuals may consciously or unconsciously avoid experiencing certain emotions because they believe they are unable to tackle the situation. In doing so, they push these emotions deep down within themselves. They might struggle to express themselves effectively as if their emotions are totally inaccessible. This can lead to a build-up of anxiety, irritability, or moodiness as the suppressed emotions continue to exert their influence. These may include difficulty in expressing feelings, feeling numb or blank, stress without a clear cause and even physical ailments like headaches or digestive problems. It may even create a constant state of fight-or-flight response, where individuals are always on edge.
Causes and Consequences
One significant cause is self-protection. Some people believe that by not acknowledging their emotions, they can shield themselves from potential hurt or pain. Another cause is self-validation. Some might feel pressured to conform to certain norms and believe that expressing certain emotions is not acceptable or that their feelings are considered invalid. Consequently, they opt to bottle up their emotions, keeping them hidden and unexpressed. These turbulent emotions can lead to serious mental and physical health problems. In the early childhood experiences, a child is constantly instructed to ‘be good’ or ‘stop crying’, they may internalize the message and learn to suppress their emotions as they grow older. Childhood trauma, one possible cause of suppressed emotions, may also play a part in chronic illness. Unresolved anger can have some significant health consequences.
Why the Suppressed Emotions Don’t Disappear?
Suppressed emotions don’t disappear because they can’t be completely erased from the nervous system and can lead to physical and psychological problems. When we try to suppress emotions, we are essentially activating our stress response, which can create internal tension and a buildup of emotional energy. Suppressing emotions activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to a constant state of ‘fight or flight’, which releases stress hormones like adrenaline. This sustained stress response can take a toll on the body and mind. The emotions don’t disappear because they buildup internally, and the continuous effort to suppress them can lead to a state of internal tension.
The more resistant the feeling becomes, it may potentially lead to an emotional outburst or increased or overreaction when confronted with a trigger. Suppressed emotions can manifest in various ways, including behavioural changes, difficulties in relationships, difficulty in communicating their needs effectively and even physical symptoms. The constant struggle to control emotions impact mental health, can lead to a heightened sense of stress, even a sense of emotional detachment and difficulty in coping with life’s challenges.
Suppressed emotions can have physical manifestations, such as changes in heart rate, sleep patterns, and even increased risk of certain illness. The body can be a container for unexpressed emotions, and the constant stress of suppression can take the form of physical consequences and be uncomfortable. It is essential need to release suppressed emotions in a healthy way. This may involve seeking support from a therapist, practicing mindfulness techniques, engaging in creative outlets, or developing healthy coping mechanisms.
How to get rid of suppressed emotions?
In order to release suppressed emotions, we should acknowledge our own feelings and emotions by practicing mindfulness and self-compassion. We should develop a more balanced and healthy relationship with our feelings. Acknowledge our feelings through practicing self-compassion with kindness and understanding. We should identify our feelings by paying attention to mind and body and accordingly label our emotions which is good for health. It is necessary to practice mindfulness and self-care through meditation by awareness of our present moment experience, deep breathing techniques for regulating nervous system, self-care activities such as listening music and engaged on interesting topics.
Healthy coping mechanisms can be explored through journaling or writing down about our thoughts and feelings. We can positively change our thoughts by doing physical activities like walking, dancing and yoga practice. Creative expression can be enhanced by indulging in art, music and painting for diverting emotions. We can also seek support by talking to trusted friends, family members and therapists about feelings and experiences. We should consider mental health professionals for help through therapy to understand the origins of our emotions. We should develop good thoughts by learning from the past experiences through Identify triggers, challenge negative thoughts and learn from mistakes. We can practice emotional regulation through utilizing the emotional management skills, cognitive behavioural therapy and emotional awareness.
Care For Our Self
“Don’t hurt your mind; don’t allow others to hurt your mind”! Majority of our emotions and feelings arise within us because of the external factors. So, we can decide how to manage our emotions and feelings. Ultimately our mental health is completely in our hands. By acknowledging and addressing difficult suppressed emotions, we can pave the way for personal self-growth, improved relationships, and better overall health and well-being. By understanding the underlying reasons behind emotional suppression, we can begin to explore healthier ways of processing and expressing our emotions, fostering emotional well-being and authenticity in our lives. It is important to identify and respond to suppressed emotions, for our emotional mental well-being. Mental equilibrium is essential for our self-care.
Written By- Ms. Reshma Mathew - Consultant Psychologist (Mindmaris Counsellors India Pvt)
