5 Signs You Are Suppressing Your Emotions
Are you aware of the emotions you confront every day, especially the challenging ones? It’s notably essential to recognize these emotions and learn how to navigate them in a healthful way. When we are raised in environments where we are conditioned to curb our emotions, particularly in spaces teeming with conflict and chaos, we unknowingly start to harbor trauma that trails into our adult relationships and overall demeanor.
“Many individuals who have experienced childhood trauma remain oblivious to its existence, let alone how deeply it permeates their lives. Our society and cultural norms often glorify the suppression of emotions, elevating it as a form of emotional intelligence. Strangely enough, drifting into an emotional void and disregarding feelings has become synonymous with ‘cool,'” writes Therapy Expert Emmylou Antonieth Seaman in a recent post.
Seaman underscores that when emotions are suppressed, the capacity to address them in a fitting manner is compromised. This suppression could lead to the stewing of unexpressed sadness, withering away within us.
However, all is not lost. Recognizing signs of suppressed and bottled-up emotions could be the first step toward eliminating their detrimental impacts. In light of this, Seaman has outlined a few signs that may indicate the retention of emotions:
- Struggling to express intense emotions: People who suppress their emotions often don’t know how to project their feelings healthily. They might hold back on showing their anger or sadness, which could sometimes lead to explosive outbursts of regret later on.
- Avoiding confrontation: Another striking sign is the fear of addressing the root cause of complex situations – a tendency to dodge rather than deal with troublesome emotions.
- Distress or Irritability: Frequently feeling distressed or annoyed when asked about your feelings could suggest a fear of vulnerability, another sign of emotional suppression.
- Neglecting personal needs and desires: Engaging in people-pleasing behavior to the extent that you suppress your own needs can be indicative of emotional suppression. If you habitually agree with others’ decisions without considering your wants, it might be time to reassess your emotional health.
- Discomfort around emotional people: Feeling uneasy in the company of emotional individuals could also be a warning sign. This discomfort can stem from an ingrained lesson from childhood that portrays emotions as unsafe, a common offshoot of early-life trauma.
Recognizing these signs is the first step toward alleviating the effects of suppressed and bottled-up emotions. If you identify with any of these signs, it may be beneficial to seek help from a therapist or counselor. It’s essential to remember that it’s okay and normal to feel emotions, and expressing them healthily is part of maintaining holistic well-being. Addressing and resolving these issues will foster emotional resilience and fortify your capacity to cope with stressors effectively and healthily.
Ref:https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/signs-you-are-suppressing-and-bottling-your-emotions-101693989608472.html
