Everyone will have experienced emotional confusion or perplexity at some stage in life. Feelings can happen quickly and unexpectedly, like a wind coming out of nowhere. These winds of emotion often take us by surprise and cause us to reel and ponder what has transpired. The inner emotions that lead us on this journey of puzzlement are not just fleeting thoughts but are embedded deeply in our very being and remain persistent until identified, labeled, felt and accepted.
Unless the full range of these feelings is regularly accessed it can lead to an accumulation of ‘unfelt’ emotions, built up over time, which ultimately leads to mental unwellness. Unexpressed emotions are all too often the source of psychological ills such as grief, addictions, stress, depression and anxiety. Many health professionals believe that it is only after we acknowledge and accept our feelings will we be better able to deal with them, understanding their meaning and message they are conveying.
Allowing these emotions to be released through expression and understanding, can help start to untangle the web of fear, denial, guilt and shame caused by an inability to face them. Denying suppressed emotions can lead to a basic erosion of self-esteem and eventually mental illness, as the veil of protection invoked through denial slowly becomes ineffective.
Some repressed emotions may not be immediately recognizable. Suppressed anger or sadness can manifest in physical symptoms such as tension and tightness in the body or even stomach aches and headaches. It is important to explore these experiences and gain an understanding of their purpose.
There are several creative strategies that can help unravel these feelings so they can move freely. Writing down thoughts and feelings, drawing, painting and clay work are all suitable mediums for unlocking trapped emotions. Reaching out to a professional therapist, who can provide unbiased support and guidance, is also a positive step and should be embraced without any feeling of shame.
When exploring these psychological spaces there may be moments of despair and hopelessness that rise to the surface. However, these feelings may often dissipate when a person takes the time to really sit and feel their emotions. After discovering the challenge within it, they can work to process and resolve it.
Often, understanding, acceptance and releasing of held emotions can lead to transformation. Transforming negative perceptions and beliefs to open up the possibility for different experiences and outlooks.
Breaking free from overwhelmed emotions, and embracing them as part of being human, can enable individuals to experiment and find new ways of dealing with life’s confusing complexities. Finding confidence in them and in the ability to understand and manage them, can reduce the likelihood of psychological ills from re-emerging.
Therefore, unmasking ignored and hidden emotions can bring about a meaningful shift in awareness, allowing for a sense of freedom, control and self-actualisation. In turn, giving an individual the opportunity to experience life with greater clarity, vitality and hope.
This article encouraged us to face our innermost feelings and showed us why it is after we acknowledge and accept our feelings that we will be better able to understand them and deal with them effectively. Until then, we may remain vulnerable to a range of psychological ills, such as depression and anxiety.
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