Nightmare

Pushing Away Emotions
Throughout our lives, we may experience emotions that disturb or distress
us. Often, our first reaction is to push our feelings away. We may say, "I
don't want to think about that right now, I'll think about it later" and we bury
our emotions, deny the validity of our feelings, or distract ourselves with
other concerns. But the diverse emotions you experience are neither good nor
bad-they are simply a part being human. Choosing not to experience pain,
anger, or other intense feelings could cause those feelings to become buried
deep into your physical body. There, they may linger unresolved and unable to
emerge, even as they affect the way you experience the world. Allowing yourself
to experience all of your emotions rather than push the more painful ones
away can help you come to terms with your feelings so you can experience them
and then move on.
It is possible to bring forth the old feelings you have pushed aside and
experience them in a safe and enriching way. It may sound silly to set aside
time to feel your old wounds that you haven't dealt with, but this can be a very
beneficial healing experience. Find a safel place and pick a time when you
can be alone. Make sure that you feel secure and comfortable in your
surroundings. Bring to mind the circumstances that originally triggered the emotions
you've been pushing away. You may need to revisit these circumstances by
reading relevant entries in your journal or using visualization to relive your
past. Once you have triggered your long-denied emotions, let yourself feel
your feelings, and try not to judge your reactions. Cry or sound your emotions
if you need to, and don't block the flow of your feelings. Allow any thoughts
that are connected to your emotions to surface. As you release the feelings
you have pushed inside of you, you will find yourself healing from ! the
experience associated with these emotions.
When you deal with your feelings directly, they can move through you rather
than staying stopped up in your body as emotional blocks that can sometimes
turn into disease. Acknowledging your emotions, instead of pushing them away,
allows you to stay emotionally healthy and in touch with your feelings.