Understanding Emotional Suppression
“Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.”
Sigmund Freud
As humans, we are always experiencing emotions. At any moment, we might feel happy, calm, disgusted, angry, sad, ashamed, fearful, guilty, or a mix of several feelings. These emotions are a natural part of being alive, not something to judge, but something to acknowledge, accept, and understand.
Why We Learn to Hide Our Emotions
Emotional suppression begins in childhood. When expressing anger, sadness, fear, or frustration results in disapproval, withdrawal, or punishment from adults, children quickly learn that certain feelings are “not safe” to show.
A child who sees that their anger upsets a parent may adapt by keeping that emotion hidden. This strategy protects their connection in the short term but can develop into a lifelong pattern of emotional avoidance.
The Long-Term Impact of Repressed Emotions
By adulthood, the habit of pushing emotions down becomes automatic and unconscious. At Koira Psychology, many clients share experiences such as:
Stating “I know what I’m thinking, but I have no idea what I’m feeling.”
Report long periods of emotional numbness or disconnection
Disclose they have difficulty identifying or expressing emotions in relationships
report a strong sense of being overwhelmed when feelings finally surface after being repressed
This can sometimes be a form of emotional dissociation, a defence mechanism that once helped a person survive, but now limits their ability to feel connected, grounded, and fully present.
The Role of Therapy in Emotional Wellbeing
Therapy provides a safe and supportive space to help you reconnect with your emotional world. Instead of treating emotions as “problems,” we explore them with curiosity, compassion, and respect.
Through the therapeutic process, individuals can:
Learn to recognise and name their emotions
Understand what their feelings are trying to communicate about their situation
Break long-held patterns of emotional suppression
Learn to tolerate strong emotional responses
Develop healthier ways of expressing and processing feelings
Build deeper self-awareness and emotional resilience
Becoming More Whole and Emotionally Present
Emotional awareness is not about becoming more emotional, it is about becoming more connected to your emotions. When we allow ourselves to experience and understand our emotions, we gain greater clarity, confidence, and connection with ourselves and others.
If emotional suppression has shaped your life, Individual Therapy can be the first step toward reclaiming a fuller, richer, and more emotionally present way of living.
