From early childhood, we are trained to control our feelings, taught that emotions should be expressed in appropriate circumstances and moments. Many of us remember childhood admonitions like, "Why are you yelling like that?" or "Stop crying, you're an adult."
Similarly, we were taught to limit the manifestation of not only positive, but also negative emotions: it was forbidden to bite, fight, and push. At the same time, it was important to learn how to protect ourselves. Thus, parents strive to suppress emotional manifestations of their children, but it is important to realize that suppressed emotions can cause serious psychological and physical problems.
What are the mechanisms for suppressing emotions?
To suppress emotions, a person must make a significant effort. This process is carried out due to muscle blocks in the body. If a person regularly holds back a certain emotion, a muscle block is formed, which over time can lead to muscle pain, spasms and dysfunction of certain organs.
On the outside, such people appear calm and unruffled, but inside they can be tormented by a storm of unexpressed emotions. They fear the loss of their reputation and status, because of which they try to hide their true feelings, spending a lot of energy and constantly being in a state of stress. This leads to weakened immunity and various diseases.
Negative aspects of suppressing emotions
Restriction in the expression of emotions gives rise to many problems:
- the emergence of neuroses and complexes;
- the emergence of the feeling that life is passing by, creating the impression of lack of control over their own life;
- in difficult situations people tend to justify themselves, looking for the guilty;
- making decisions not by choice, but because of a sense of duty;
- inability to express true emotions, leading to emotional coldness;
- excessive resentfulness and vindictiveness.
How are unexpressed emotions reflected on a physical level?
Many of us have encountered or noticed other situations where, for example, severe back pain is not amenable to the usual treatment prescribed for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis. And suddenly, the pain disappears on its own. This is a prime example of the influence of unexpressed emotions on our physical state.
Emotional map of our body
Numerous studies have shown that our emotions directly affect our physical health. Psychotherapist A. Loewen's work details the effects of each emotion on different parts of the body.
Here is a list of some of the negative emotions and their impact on health if not expressed in a timely manner:
Anger - increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Chronic anxiety - negatively affects the spleen and weakens the stomach.
Grief, longing - causes problems with the respiratory system.
Stress - leads to a variety of diseases, including asthma, ulcers, gastrointestinal tract problems, cardiovascular diseases, reproductive system disorders.
Loneliness - lowers immunity and contributes to heart disease.
Fear - wears out the kidneys and adrenal glands.
Envy and jealousy - affect the brain, heart and gallbladder.
Anxiety - causes gastrointestinal tract disorders.
If you experience pain in a certain area of the body, and medical tests show normal results, it may be worth seeing a psychotherapist or trying to unload yourself from unexpressed emotions.
