5. Repressed Emotions

Feel the feel in your body

Repressed emotions are feelings that you unconsciously avoid because they’re uncomfortable. You might push painful feelings, thoughts, or memories out of your awareness, trying to forget about them. Often, these emotions are set aside because they’re too challenging, and you might be attempting to shield your mind from painful experiences. However, it’s essential to understand that if these feelings aren’t addressed, they will manifest in other ways. For example, a child who has suffered abuse might suppress the memories and associated emotions, becoming wholly or partially unaware of them. But this doesn’t mean those feelings and memories disappear. They linger in the subconscious and remain stored within the body. As adults, such individuals might encounter relationship issues and various health complications. Studies have shown that emotional repression can weaken immune system functionality. Moreover, repressed emotions can contribute to mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, and depression.

Commonly repressed emotions include:

1. Sadness
2. Anger
3. Fear
4. Shame

However, any emotion can be suppressed if it’s too overwhelming. When you harbor repressed emotions, it can be challenging to pinpoint the cause. Physical symptoms might be the key to understanding your emotional state. Symptoms could include persistent headaches, stomachaches, depression, anxiety, muscle tension, palpitations, dizziness, unexplained pain, or even panic attacks. Individuals with repressed emotions may fall ill more frequently. It’s vital to recognize the close link between emotions, psychology, personality, and the onset of chronic pain.

People with chronic pain often report a higher frequency of adverse experiences in both childhood and adulthood. As a result, they may frequently experience:

1. Victimization
2. Relationship problems
3. Internal conflicts

Yet, they might not be consciously aware of these issues. These repressed emotions, thoughts, and memories demand expression and understanding. Avoiding them or trying to bury them is akin to leaving a task incomplete. They will find ways to manifest, often as physical pain – a pain not easily addressed with medications because its root is emotional.

Emotional Awareness

What contributes to emotional unawareness?

1. Trauma: This can lead individuals to emotionally shut down as a self-defense mechanism.
2. Attachment Style: Your bond with your primary caregiver in childhood can influence your emotional awareness as an adult.
3. Mental Health Conditions: Disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, and substance use disorder can impede emotional awareness.

How to Identify Your Emotions:

1. Pay attention to your body’s reactions when interacting with someone, listening to music, or watching a film. Once you’ve identified an emotion, ask: “What are you trying to tell me?” Then, observe, breathe, and approach the emotion with curiosity rather than judgment.
2. Use an emotion list: Having a reference of various emotions and their associated sensations can be beneficial. Some examples include Anger, Fear, Hopelessness, Joy, Terror, Loneliness, and Trust.
3. Maintain a journal: Writing can help articulate thoughts and feelings, providing a non-judgmental space for self-reflection.

Recognizing and processing emotions is a powerful tool with numerous benefits.

The brain’s primary function is to protect us. It often tries to prevent painful feelings and memories from surfacing. However, when these emotions are acknowledged and understood, they can deliver their message and fulfill their purpose. The choice then lies with us: harness this knowledge for empowerment or let it continue to suppress our emotions and wellbeing.

What Are Your Emotions trying to tell you?

Pain can sometimes be linked to specific emotional issues:

• Upper back pain suggests a lack of emotional support or feelings of being unloved.
• Lower back pain might indicate fears related to financial instability or a lack of financial support.
• Hip pain can signify fear of moving forward in life or feeling directionless.
• Chest pain might arise from feelings of vulnerability.

However, pain isn’t always this straightforward. The brain might focus on a previously injured body part, even if it has healed, to distract you from emotional pain, making you believe the discomfort originates from the old injury.