This article explains psychological repression and provides examples of repression and the physical and emotional signs and symptoms.
It also covers therapeutic methods that may help work through repression to promote healing.
Repression is associated with a multitude of experiences, thoughts, or emotions.
Fiordaliso / Getty Images
Over time, emotional repression can significantly impact your physical health and well-being.
Repression minimizes this dissonance by pushing conflicting thoughts and emotions out of awareness.
Adaptive Forgetting Hypothesis
Some experts believe that repression serves an adaptive function.
This hypothesis emphasizes the role of repression in promoting psychological resilience.
The mind represses traumatic memories to prevent them from interfering with daily functioning.
However, these repressed memories might resurface when people feel emotionally safe and ready to process them.
Repression and False Memories
One of the most well-debated controversies on repression involvesfalse memories.
As people explore their past experiences and emotions, the line between genuine recollection and constructed memories can blur.
This controversy raises important questions about the accuracy of repressed memories, especially in trauma cases.
Is Repression Harmful or Protective?
The question of whether repression is harmful or protective has long been a subject of debate.
However, research shows that repression can seriously impact your psychological and physical health in the long term.
Repressed emotions may resurface unexpectedly, contributing to mood disorders, anxiety, and physical health issues.
Working with atherapistcan help you uncover and process repressed emotions in a healthy way.
Licensed mental health professionals can help determine the best therapeutic approach for effectively addressing and healing from repressed emotions.
Boag S.Repression (defense mechanism).
In: Zeigler-Hill V, Shackelford TK, eds.Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences.
2007;30(6):471-481. doi:10.1007/s10865-007-9122-7
Bailey R, Pico J.Defense mechanisms.
Patel J, Patel P.Consequences of repression of emotion: physical health, mental health and general well being.
Xu W, ed.IJPR.
2017;5(1):1-17. doi:10.3934/Neuroscience.2018.1.
2020;60(1):86-102. doi:10.5334/pb.517
Nrby S.Why forget?
On the adaptive value of memory loss.Perspect Psychol Sci.
