The Importance of Emotional Health

The Cultural Paradigm Against Emotions

Many of us have been raised with the belief that having and expressing emotions makes us weak or pathetic.

From a young age, we have often been encouraged to think rationally rather than feel, viewing thinking as a strength.

In contrast, emotional expression has been culturally viewed as a sign of weakness that must be controlled or suppressed.

This paradigm has taught us to distrust our own emotional world, laying the groundwork for future mental health issues.

The Energetic Nature of Emotions

It is essential to understand that emotions are a form of energy that needs to be expressed in order to be processed properly.

Emotions are a form of communication that is present in our psyche even before we are aware of them.

A young child, for example, expresses curiosity or fear through their face before they can verbalize it.

You learn how to react to a new situation, such as seeing a spider, by observing the emotional signals you receive from your parents.

Selective Repression. Silencing "Negative" Emotions

As we grow up, we are sadly encouraged to express only emotions considered "positive," such as joy or surprise.

On the other hand, we are taught to repress "negative" emotions, such as anger, sadness, or fear.

Few of us were encouraged in our childhood to express our anger in a healthy way and without fear of the consequences.

As a result, we learn to hide and bury these emotions inside, believing that they will go away forever.

The Hidden Cost. Blocking Positive Emotions

The big problem with this repression mechanism is that we can't choose which emotions to silence and which not.

When we strive to repress and block negative emotions, we inevitably end up repressing positive ones as well.

Indeed, by trying not to feel sadness or anger, we also diminish our ability to feel full and authentic joy.

This generalized emotional blockage hinders our personal growth and is very harmful to our mental health in the long term.

The Long-Term Consequences for Our Health

Emotions that have been repressed become a heavy burden that affects our ability to make clear decisions.

The emotional energy that has been blocked can diminish our cognitive capacity and our mental clarity.

Furthermore, various studies have shown that the constant suppression of emotions is directly linked to worse physical health.

This baggage of unresolved upsets goes away accumulating inside us, negatively affecting all areas of our lives.

Summary

Culturally, we are taught to view emotion as weakness, favoring reason. But emotions are a form of energy that needs to be expressed.

We learn to suppress "negative" emotions like anger or sadness, believing they will go away. The problem is that by doing so, we also block the positive ones.

Repressed emotions become a heavy burden that affects mental clarity and decision-making. This suppression also harms our physical health.