In a way, suppressing emotions is something we are all used to doing.
There can be many reasons – it shows our weakness, gives us a sense of control, or quite simply, we feel that no one will understand or care. While all of these reasons are perfectly plausible and understandable, many of us are unaware of the potential harm we can do to our bodies when we suppress emotions.
Here are 10 harmful effects, some of which might surprise you:
1. Poor sleep patterns
Insomnia is the culprit, but it can also be the other way around. Even after sleeping for more than 8 hours, you will feel exhausted. Of course, either way, it can affect every aspect of your life – work or study can be affected by poor concentration. Fatigue can lead to mood swings that can disrupt relationships. Your enthusiasm for life will slowly fade and your overall health, both physical and mental, will be severely affected.
2. Mental exhaustion
A common side effect when you suppress your feelings is trying to suppress uncomfortable memories completely. Because memories are never intentionally forgotten, this makes your brain work harder. Your brain must remember not to evoke those uncomfortable memories, but at the same time to keep the memory in order to be able to recognize it.
3. Weight gain
Comfort diets are directly related to mood suppression. Food has a way of making us feel better (albeit temporarily), which can create a potentially catastrophic cycle: feeling bad, eating something makes us feel better, and then feeling bad again because we ate too much. Of course, this leads to weight gain.
4. Memory loss
The emotions associated with what happened help us remember it better. When you suppress an emotion, it is difficult for you to remember not only the event, but also the time when the event occurred and the relevant event.
A study conducted by Stanford University showed that when emotions are hidden, deliberately suppressing emotions can lead to collateral memory impairment.
5. High blood pressure
In the same study mentioned above, Stanford University found that keeping emotions in the mind increases the frequency of cardiovascular activity. This is because any mental or physical stress on your breathing and heart rate, both of which directly affect your blood pressure.
6. Digestive problems
Just as many people experience stomach cramps or pain when we are nervous or worried, similar other problems such as ulcers, constipation, and acid reflux can be caused by pent-up emotions.
7. Change teeth
When you imagine someone trying not to get angry or stressed, the most typical thing that comes to mind is probably clenching your teeth. That's right; There are an astonishing number of people who have this habit. However, this can be very harmful – the enamel on the teeth weakens, causing teeth to move and deform.
8. Wrinkles
Hiding your feelings is hard for your face. Any kind of negative emotion, such as anxiety or worry, can cause wrinkles on your face. It can reach a point where you're so used to holding that look that you don't even realize you're doing it.
9. Reduce oxytocin
Oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone," is released when people cling to each other or socialize. It helps reduce stress and blood pressure. If you suppress your emotions, there's a good chance you're alienating your loved ones and depriving yourself of this vital hormone.
10. Damage to the temporal lobe
The temporal lobe is the part of the brain that is involved in hearing and stabilizing mood. If you suppress emotions, you interfere with its work, thus altering the natural balance it tries to give. Over time, this can lead to a chronic decline in temporal lobe function.