Suppressing Grief or Anxiety only extends Suffering, why:

Suppressing Grief or Anxiety only extends Suffering, why:

Suppressing grief or anxiety only extends suffering because when these emotions are pushed away or denied, they aren’t actually resolved — they remain active beneath the surface, influencing thoughts, behavior, and even physical health in subtle but powerful ways. 

Here’s why:

Unprocessed Emotions Don’t Disappear Suppression is like stuffing emotions into a box and locking it — but the box is still inside you. Over time, those emotions may leak out as irritability, depression, panic attacks, or physical symptoms (like headaches, fatigue, or digestive issues).

Avoidance Blocks Healing Emotions like grief and anxiety have a natural arc — they arise in response to loss or threat and, when fully experienced, tend to lessen over time. Suppression interrupts this healing process, leaving you emotionally “stuck.”

Increases Internal Conflict Part of your mind is trying to feel or express the emotion, while another part is working hard to block it. This creates tension and drains mental energy, leading to greater stress and fatigue.

Impacts Relationships When you suppress your emotions, especially grief, it can create distance between you and others. You may seem emotionally unavailable or cold, which makes it harder to receive the support you actually need.

The Body Keeps ScoreAs trauma researcher Bessel van der Kolk puts it, “the body keeps the score.” Suppressed emotions can manifest in somatic (bodily) ways — chronic pain, immune issues, or psychosomatic conditions.

Ultimately, allowing yourself to feel and express grief or anxiety — whether through talking, writing, crying, or meditating — is a form of respect for your inner life. It’s how you metabolize pain and create space for growth, connection, and peace.

Shervan K Shahhian