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Negative Effects of Not Expressing Emotions

People experiencing painful emotions like anger or sadness may try to hide those feelings from others. They might fear that their emotions will seem unprofessional or drive away friends. However, bottling up emotions -- known as expressive suppression -- can actually weaken relationships and harm your psychological and physical health.

  1. Medical Risks

    • Suppressed emotions can be linked to serious medical problems. According to the WebMD article "Get Well. Get Angry," bottled anger in women is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal issues, clinical depression and even some cancers. Women, in particular, are prone to swallowing anger due to social expectations, but they do so at their own peril. It's far healthier to assert anger.

    Stress

    • The "Psychology Today" article titled "Suppressing/Expressing Emotions" suggests that suppressing emotion isn't just unhealthy, it's impossible. While you might be able to conceal your feelings of anger or sadness, you'll ultimately seem agitated; in essence, you will trade one negative emotion for another. This behavior is counterproductive and will potentially create emotional distance. As you attempt to deny your feelings, your stress will register on your face, and others around you will feel tense as a result.

    Effect on Relationships

    • A 2003 study at Stanford University confirmed that emotional suppression increases stress in relationships, disrupts communication and weakens rapport between the suppressor and others. Basically, human relationships require at least some emotional responsiveness. In addition, suppressing emotion hinders communication, which allows people to resolve conflict and improve relations. According to Dr. Sue Johnson in "Suppressing/Expressing Emotions," expressing emotion allows others to respond and empathize, which strengthens bonds. Bottling up feelings prevents that.

    Expressing Emotions

    • Although it's unhealthy to suppress emotions, it's not OK to have explosive outbursts and heated confrontations. Distressed individuals must consider the options and make a decision about how to release emotions in a responsible way. For example, someone experiencing anger could take a series of deep breaths or go for a walk. A sad person could talk to friends about her feelings. Regardless of the choice, it's important to consider the intensity of the emotions and the potential consequences of each option.

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