What happens when you suppress your emotions?

 

Do you ever say "I shouldn't feel this way"? 

Do you feel like your emotions are invalid because "it could be worse"? 

When you believe that you shouldn’t feel something, you resist it. You squash the feeling or push it away to avoid it. 

We often distract ourselves from the emotion. This is often seen in denial (smile and pretend it's not there, like when you bump into your annoying ex-boyfriend at the pub), drink alcohol (also, when you bump into your ex boyfriend at the pub), eat, take drugs, over work, watch hours of TV - you get the gist. 

But unlike our ex-boyfriends, we can't just ignore them until they go away; our emotions get stuck inside of us, and the more we deny ourselves from feeling them, the more they get stuffed away, the bigger they grow. 

And like a Jack-in-the-box, they will eventually build and get so wound up that they eventually explode and cause mass destruction to anyone and anything in a 5 mile radius.  

Here's what you can do about it: 

Imagine standing in the sea. I'm thinking more Maldives-esque, than Southend. 

The water reaches your waist. You can see waves coming your way. 

If you try and hold back the waves from taking their course, you take a tumble, and get dragged undercurrent. It can feel like you're drowning.

If you accept that the wave is coming and prepare yourself for it, things are different. 

You steady yourself with a strong stance, like a rugby player. The wave lifts you off your feet, but you are braced to re-balance as you land back down. Each wave washes past and you remain strong and ready for the next one.

Emotional experience reflects this idea of standing in the waves. Accepting emotion and pain as a natural part of being human, allows you to look after yourself in the right way. This allows for emotions to wash over you naturally and fall away more quickly.

When you notice an emotion arrive today, let it be. Feel it. Let it wash over. Let it pass. 

Notice the difference when you stop fighting it. 

Instead, focus on looking after yourself through it and doing what is necessary to land back on your feet when it passes. 

 

It's hard. I know it's hard. I still struggle to even identify an emotion. But it gets easier, I promise. I'm still practising.

 

Kate xx

I'd be grateful if you shared this post so others can enjoy it too. It's simple, just click the 'share' button below. 

Be sure to subscribe using the 'subscribe' button at the top of the page, so you're the first to know when I post next.

 

 I post regularly on here and Instagram with self-love, body positivity and recipe ideas so that you can bloom into your best self, with me.