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Jan 11, 2023 · Talk and teach: Teach your children to recognize and name their emotions. Don’t bother trying to have the conversation while they’re upset, however. “When things are calm, find opportunities to talk about feelings and strategies for managing them,” Cole said.
- Overview
- Why does it happen?
- What kinds of emotions get repressed?
- Can it really lead to physical symptoms?
- How do I know if I have repressed emotions?
- Is it possible to release them?
- The bottom line
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.
Say you and your partner have a fight and decide to break up one evening. You still have to meet with an important client at work the next day, so you decide to suppress, or push aside, your feelings until you get home from that meeting.
Suppression can sometimes be a good short-term solution, as long as you make sure to address those emotions sooner rather than later.
Repressed emotions, on the other hand, don’t get a chance to be processed. But that doesn’t mean they simply disappear. Instead, they might show up as a range of psychological or physical symptoms.
Emotional repression often relates to childhood experiences.
Much of what children learn about behavior and communication comes from their primary caregivers.
So, 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
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
“Hold on,” you might think. “My emotions don’t make me sick… do they?”
They actually can, in a way.
There’s no evidence to suggest emotions directly cause illness, of course. Sadness can’t give you the flu, and anger doesn’t cause cancer.
But research has linked emotional repression to decreased immune system function. If your immune system doesn’t work properly, you might get sick more frequently and recover slowly.
Repressed emotions can also factor into mental health conditions, such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
These issues often cause physical symptoms, including:
It’s not always easy to recognize when you’re dealing with emotional repression, and there’s no definitive test you can take.
If you do have repressed emotions, however, you might notice a few key signs. These signs might show up in your feelings or your behavior — both toward yourself and other people.
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.
Therapy also provides a safe space to:
•work on naming and understanding your feelings
•increase your comfort level around talking about emotions
•learn more helpful methods of emotional regulation
It’s natural to want to avoid feeling bad. Plenty of people feel at least a little afraid of confronting deep, intense emotions, especially those they link to unpleasant or unwanted experiences.
While it may sound a little counterintuitive, learning to embrace those negative feelings can actually help improve emotional well-being over time.
Getting more comfortable with your emotions, even the ones that don’t feel great, can help you navigate the challenges of life more successfully while also improving your relationship with yourself and anyone else you care about.
Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.
- Crystal Raypole
- Identify and Name Emotions. The first step in emotional regulation is to help children identify and label their emotions. Encourage your child to express what they are feeling by giving their emotions a name.
- Create a Safe and Supportive Environment. Children need a safe and nurturing environment where they feel comfortable sharing their emotions. Ensure that your child knows they can confide in you without judgment.
- Deep Breathing and Relaxation Techniques. Teaching children deep breathing and relaxation techniques is an excellent way to help them manage overwhelming emotions.
- Physical Activity. Engaging in physical activities like sports, yoga, or dancing can help kids release built-up energy and emotions. Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which are known as “feel-good” hormones, promoting positive emotions and reducing stress.
Apr 3, 2024 · When a child begins experiencing big emotions, a co-regulation response will look different depending on the child and circumstances. But the steps to take are similar. "First, the parent needs to pause and self-regulate their own emotions, such as by taking a deep breath," Marchette explains. "The next steps are validating the child's feelings ...
- hhp_info@health.harvard.edu
Dec 18, 2023 · Emotional regulation teaches your child to take turns in conversation and games, share toys, and express emotions appropriately. Learn at school. Emotional regulation allows your child to sit and listen in the classroom. Behave in socially acceptable ways. Emotional regulation allows your child to control their impulses.
Complete an emotional check-in and check-out, sometimes using emoji pictures to label feelings. Items in the “comfort corner” must stay in the “comfort corner.”. Clean up before leaving. The educator’s role is an essential part of the “comfort corner” strategy.
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Mar 16, 2016 · Studies have found that mindfulness practice can help reduce symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety in children. It can also increase gray matter density in regions of the brain involved in ...
