While it’s generally accepted that the individual route to good or bad health is based on a combination of genetic predispositions subject to a variety of environmental factors which will influence the overall outcome, one factor is consistently overlooked: the effect of the arousal and persistent suppression of the expression and release of emotion on physical and mental health.

Despite widespread information, advice and encouragement to look after one’s personal health, the importance/relevance of diet, exercise and keeping our brains active in older age, little is mentioned about emotional wellbeing.

Unfortunately, this neglect of the emotional aspect of life leads to adverse repercussions on the health of both our minds and bodies. How can we address this?

There is no need to be a dietician or lung specialist in order to exercise some choices about what we eat and how we breathe. Similarly, we don’t have to reach for expert help in understanding the what, where and how of emotion. Nor do we have to become self-obsessed.

The first step is to acquire clear information to replace the general mistrust of anything emotional and to dispel some of the myths and confusion. For example, most of us assume that emotions are either ‘negative’ and undesirable (e.g. sadness/anger/envy) whereas others (e.g. happiness/confidence/ love) are ‘positive’ and more socially acceptable.

Once we understand that feelings are neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’, we become more able to identify and correctly name our feelings. This comes through learning to ‘read’ our bodies more correctly: attending to the little tell-tale signs – flutters/tension/increased heart rate/ tightness, nausea/ heat, sinking sensation – which our bodies send us all the time but which we usually choose to ignore or try to rationalise away:
“I’ve nothing to be depressed about…”
“It will cause problems if I express my anger…”
“I can’t show them I’m anxious…”
“I’ll look childish if I cry…”
“I’m being silly to be suspicious…”

Then, once we acknowledge what we’re feeling, we are faced with a choice. Maybe it is enough to register what is going on and keep that knowledge private. On the other hand, it may be appropriate to communicate your feelings in words.

Overload

As adults, we all need to suppress our feelings in order to continue with parental, social or professional responsibilities or simply to attend to the daily demands of life.

However, learning how to spot when emotional tension is getting in the way of normal functioning is a huge advantage in terms of health. We recognise when our bodies tell us we’re hungry or want sex: a similar non-verbal interaction occurs with emotional arousal.

The problem is that we tend to ignore these signs: changes of mood, withdrawal, snappiness, using food or alcohol or overwork to suppress the rising tensions, or insomnia.

Becoming familiar with the process of safely releasing emotional tension in private is a life-changing skill: to go with our bodies instead of fighting against them. We overlook the fact that there isn’t a single system in our bodies that remains unaffected by the arousal and persistent suppression of release of emotion.

Unreleased emotion affects physical health through body memories – a process called somatisation – when our bodies become the physical arena in which mental conflicts are played out.

This is a complex process, but the build-up of tensions associated with different emotions affect us in different ways. Short term suppression of sadness, for example (choking back or swallowing down tears), can lead to swollen glands, sore throats and headaches. Longer term suppression of grief results in tension usually in the upper body, accumulating around our lungs, the chest, the sternum and diaphragm.

The sites of tension related to anger include the powerful musculature of the buttocks, thighs, shoulder and upper arms, with tension in the pelvis mirroring tension in the jaw. Over time, this can lead to lower back pain, inflammation of the sciatic nerve and also contribute to wear and tear of the heart musculature.

The repercussions of long-term suppression of anxiety and fear include rigidity and restricted blood supply to the digestive, respiratory and immune systems.

There is no universal blueprint for these processes because we each have our individual vulnerabilities, but it’s important to remember that emotion is a psychosomatic experience (i.e. involving the mind and body together) so a blend of physical and mental repercussions is inevitable.

The good news is that we can begin by familiarising ourselves with our own individual bodies. We can replace faulty learning about emotions with new information. We can stop blaming ourselves for having ‘negative’ feelings because we believe they show us in a bad light and instead of pretending to be happy and confident when we’re not, we can be more truthful with ourselves and others. We realise that feelings are just feelings: that we are not to blame for what we feel – only how we choose to express and act on those feelings.

With practice, we can trust our bodies instead of struggling against them and value emotional knowledge as much as rational knowledge. If we take responsibility for what we feel, we can communicate those feelings to others clearly and without blame. Strengthening the psychosomatic connection helps you make a choice: when to communicate what you’re feeling or when to let off some steam; when you need intimacy or solitude; when to trust your instinct and intuition even when there is no ‘logical’ explanation. This is how we build emotional literacy.

Reconnection with your own body has all sorts of spin-offs. It helps you to recognise energy levels: when to eat, to rest, when to push yourself, when you need distraction and fun; when you need a good scream or to arrange an important conversation; when you need peace and solitude.
Emotional familiarity and trust contribute significantly to a genuine sense of confidence. This is the basis of an alternative form of empowerment. When we a) recognise what we are feeling, b) are able to put this into words, c) be alert to signs of emotional overload and d) can locate within our own bodies the connections between emotion and illness, we become much more proactive about our wellbeing.