Psychology Facts

▲ Repressed Emotions ▲

》  Repressed emotions refer to emotions that you unconsciously avoid. These differ from suppressed emotions, which are feelings you purposely avoid because you don't know exactly how to deal with them.

》  Psychoanalysis also suggests that repression plays a role in distorting an individual's reality, which may then lead to neurosis and dysfunction.

》  It is also important to note that even if repression does exist and certain things are hidden from awareness, this does not mean that this process necessarily contributes to mental disorders.

》  Studies show that the subconscious mind, sometimes, represses the surge of negative emotions because it perceives them as harmful to our emotional wellbeing.

》  Emotional repression often relates to childhood experiences.
Much of what children learn about behavior and communication comes from their primary caregivers.

》  You'll probably feel pretty comfortable expressing your emotions if your caregivers:

frequently talked about their feelings

encouraged you to share how experiences made you feel

normalized your positive and negative emotional experiences

didn't judge or criticize your emotional expressions

》 You might be more likely to repress emotions if your caregivers:

rarely showed emotion or talked about their feelings

shamed or punished you for expressing your emotions

told you your emotions were wrong or denied your experience

》  Repression was the first defense mechanism Freud identified and he believed it to be the most important. In fact, the entire process of Freudian psychoanalysis focused on bringing these unconscious feelings and urges into awareness so they could be dealt with consciously.

》  For the most part, people tend to repress strong emotions, especially those associated with discomfort or other unpleasant experiences.
This includes emotions like:

anger

frustration

sadness

fear

disappointment

》  Freudian slips of the tongue are another example of how repressed thoughts and feelings can make themselves known.

》  Repressed emotions can also factor into mental health conditions, such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
These issues often cause physical symptoms, including:

muscle tension and pain

nausea and digestive problems

appetite changes

fatigue and sleep problems

》  Emotional repression can affect your ability to:

talk about things that matter to you

build intimate relationships

understand how other people feel

encourage or praise yourself

》  You might also notice that you:

go along with situations instead of expressing what you really want and need

use substances, TV, social media, or other activities to help you numb and avoid feelings you don't want to explore

spend most of your time with other people to avoid being alone

exhibit passive-aggressive behaviors to deal with situations that upset you

Still another sign: Others often describe you as "chill," "calm," or "relaxed"

》  People with repressed emotions often have trouble naming and understanding their emotional experience.

》  You might feel:

regularly feel numb or blank

feel nervous, low, or stressed a lot of the time, even if you aren't sure why

have a tendency to forget things
experience unease or discomfort when other people tell you about their feelings

feel cheerful and calm most of the time because you never let your thoughts linger on anything significant or upsetting

feel distressed or irritated when someone asks you about your feelings

》  Unresolved anger can have some significant health consequences, too. If you struggle with expressing anger in productive ways, you may face a higher risk of developing:

high blood pressure

digestive problems

cardiovascular disease

》  Here's how you can handle your negative emotions.

Acknowledge them

Use them to fuel creativity

Write about them

》  If you have trouble expressing or regulating your emotions, talking to a mental health professional is a good first step.
A therapist can help you explore potential causes of repressed emotions and offer guidance and support as you begin to address these reasons.