For some reason, we have become programmed to hide our emotions and keeping everything built up inside. By disregarding our feelings, it’s just not healthy, but too many people think it’s a sign of weakness if you address anything going on inside of you. The bottom line, when we deny our feelings, we will never solve the root issues that are stirring up. If this continues, we will only build up more stress and discontentment.
Sean Grover, psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker, has spent his career studying the repression of emotions. Through his research, he discovered burying our feelings will establish themselves physically in different parts of our bodies. Somatization is the tendency of experiencing psychological distress through physical symptoms. These signals are known as “psychosomatic symptoms,” which will trigger mental factors such as internal conflicts and stress.
Psychosomatic symptoms are not a precise science and how your body responds to stress; it depends on each person, individually. The following list is only general information regarding psychosomatic symptoms which some people will be able to relate to while others not at all.
Lower Back: Anger
The answer is yes, the lower back is the most commonplace for your body to store repressed anger. If you are suffering from back pain with no reason; it could very well be a result of your emotions. Everyone must learn how to work through their anger and address conflicts as they surface, not suppress them.
Stomach: Fear
If you pay attention to your body, you will notice if something frightens you or you are afraid of. Your stomach and intestines will tighten up, causing what we call knots. The more you repress your fears, the more physical reactions will arise. For the sake of your health, it’s much smarter to acknowledge your concerns and talk about them with a friend or family member. Grover believes the more you express your fears, the less effect it will have on your body.
Heart and Chest: Hurt
If you feel like your chest and heart are in pain, Grover found that when patients released their pain by crying, the tension alleviated and eventually lifted. Crying does more for relieving hurt than all medical solutions can ever do. Keep in mind; this is only if your chest and heart have no other reason for the pain. If you don’t feel you are suffering from built-up tension, you might want to get checked out by your doctor to ensure it’s not a serious medical issue such as heart disease.
Headache: Loss of Control
Too many people think they can control absolutely everything in their lives. Living under that belief could lead to splitting headaches. You must learn to let go of the idea that you control everything it could relieve the symptoms you are suffering from.
Neck and Shoulder Tension: Overwhelming
If you have been suffering from unbearable tension in your neck and back with no apparent reason why you might be feeling overwhelmed and overburdened. Tension in your neck and shoulders is one of the most common signs of stress. To stop this tension, you must understand what you can and cannot handle all at once. You must learn how to say the word “No” and ask for help when you need it. Learn how to delegate your responsibilities with others when you feel you have taken on more than you can chew. You’d be amazed how the tension will alleviate, making your neck and shoulders feel so much better.
Fatigue: Resentment
If you hold on to your anger and bitterness, all you are doing is damaging yourself, not the people you resent. Animosity only stresses out your entire body, will keep you from moving forward, and you will become exhausted in no time at all. You are stressing yourself out for no apparent reason so let it go. No word is more healing than “forgiveness”. Once you have forgiven those that you feel “did you wrong” you can move on with your life.
Numbness: Trauma
When you suppress your feelings and become numb due to overwhelming issues, you are not in a healthy state of mind. You must process in your mind what’s going on, so your body does not become paralyzed when facing danger or pain. To get through your painful emotions, you must find a way to work through the trauma you are experiencing. You’d be amazed how much better you will feel when you acknowledge things going on your life and in your head.
Insomnia: Unease with Change
Think about the discomforts you are going through, decide if you have a way to relieve these anxieties, and let your body rest. The body is a fantastic mechanism that will store all your emotions, both good and bad. It’s up to you to step back, look at a situation, figure out how to deal with it, and get back on track to feeling a whole lot better.
