Is there a negative to "sucking it up" emotionally?

1. 94

   peeplesposted 10 years ago

   Is there a negative to "sucking it up" emotionally?
   
   Is there a downside to ignoring natural emotions? Are there health consequences?

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2. 92

   billybucposted 10 years ago

   How much time do you have for this answer?  Seriously? I think you know the answer to this one.  Pent up emotions lead to stress, and stress leads to all sorts of negative health issues.  I could go on and on, and I'm speaking from decades of experience on this one my friend.  When in doubt, let it out.  You can quote me on that one.

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3. 91

   Kathleen Odenthalposted 10 years ago

   I think there is a negative and positive side of almost everything. You shouldnt ignore or stuff your emotions, but sucking it up is different. Sucking it up is acknowledging your emotions, and realizing the priority of the situation.

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4. 64

   Lisa HWposted 10 years ago

   Not all emotions are equal.  I'm not sure if too many people can just ignore their own; but one thing I know is that there is "managing emotions", there is "not allowing them to run away with you", and the is "processing emotions" - all of which could look, to the person who is either not skilled in any of the above and/or to the person who hasn't had too many different types/degrees of emotions to have to deal with, like "ignoring".  When the emotion is, say, grief (overwhelming grief) Nature already builds in "the numbing factor", which allows us to kind of set aside the real "processing"/"facing" of that particular emotion until we're a little more ready to process it.
   
   There can be a real lot of health and/or relationship difficulties that come from NOT being skilled at processing/managing one's own emotions; and if someone can't do those well then he should seek help in learning how, in addressing the root cause of SOME types of emotions, or else (if possible) eliminate the cause of SOME types of emotions. 
   
   As for "sucking it up", I don't think that's necessarily the same thing as "ignoring".  I don't think young children should be encouraged to "suck it up", but once kids get to, grade school age, I think there's something they can gain from learning (if at all possible) to "suck it up" when they're "on the scene of what causes SOME emotions" and processing/addressing it later.
   
   I mean... really!   Imagine a civilized society in which everyone just went around cutting loose with whatever emotion he was/is experiencing at any given time!     Managing, processing and/or addressing are what people need to do.  That may or may not mean temporarily "sucking it up" or "setting thing aside".  Of course to onlookers who don't know what someone is dealing with, that could LOOK LIKE "ignoring".   
   
   Personally, I think the negative health consequences are more likely to come from the unhealthy "going wild with"/"wallowing in" emotions - not the healthy managing, processing, addressing of them.   

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5. 73

   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   It depends on the circumstances and the frequency.
   Every stressful situation requires someone who has the ability to compartmentalize their emotions in order to take care of things to get over the initial hump.
   Imagine there is a death in the family and everyone is falling apart. Someone has to make funeral arrangements, oversee the writing of the obituary, notify family and friends who may live out of town.....etc
   This person might grieve only in private or weeks after the funeral. Most people would say if someone habitually "buries their feelings" eventually they will erupt like a volcano one day. It's healthier to have a "release valve"  to shed some emotion from time to time.
   People who often ignore natural emotions do so because (they) see it as being "weak" and they don't want others to think of them that way. However if one truly loves them self they will honor (their) feelings in some way.
   Part of being a friend means allowing someone else to provide you a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. To pay attention other people's feelings and always ignore your own is a sign that a person might have low self-esteem or does not feel that anyone would care.

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      Lisa HWposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It may depend, though, on when someone is a mother/father; because it can be more than just "looking strong" in that case.  It's a matter of actually BEING strong and an example of someone who processes/manages emotions skillfully.

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6. 95

   MizBejabbersposted 10 years ago

   I think there is a difference in burying ones emotions and in “suck it up” and dealing with the situation. To bury ones emotions habitually can lead to problems with both mental and physical health. To suck it up is usually a temporary condition. I believe the heroic people we see on TV who have lost their homes in these devastating tornadoes are “sucking it up” and handling their situations as best they can. Some of them in my state have lost their homes for the second time in two years, but they are determined to rebuild again. Their loss is great, but they will have a healthier outcome than if they buried their emotions and acted as if nothing was wrong.

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7. 72

   artist101posted 10 years ago

   
   
   As far as I have read, it can cause negative health issues. From high blood pressure, stomach aches, panic stress disorder, headaches, low self esteem, among other things. By pushing it down you suppress your own feelings, and negate what you feel. It will come out one way or another, either in health, lashing out for no apparent reason, as well as passive aggressive behavior. On the other end of the spectrum, you cant react to everything, pick your battles. Taking action can bring resolve. Either confronting the issue, talk therapy, or counseling. Many times we struggle with emotions, and issues because subconsciously we may feel we have not "been heard". By talking about it with a licensed counselor, they do not judge, they only listen, and validate your feelings. They show you coping skills, and many times its just easier to "walk away" then to get caught up in the drama. So yes it is a negative, but so is over reacting. Its a balancing act.

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