Stress and its Relationship to Disease
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Studies have shown that short-term stress can boost the immune system, but chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system that ultimately manifest an illness. Chronic stress will suppress the immune system. [1]
Our Body Stores Unexpressed Emotions
Through her scientific research, Dr. Candace Pert has demonstrated that our emotional memory is stored in many places in the body, not just in the brain. (Candace Pert PhD 1999)
Dr. Pert says:
"A feeling sparked in our mind-or body-will translate as a peptide being released somewhere. [Organs, tissues, skin, muscle and endocrine glands], they all have peptide receptors on them and can access and store emotional information. This means the emotional memory is stored in many places in the body, not just or even primarily, in the brain. You can access emotional memory anywhere in the peptide/receptor network, in any number of ways. I think unexpressed emotions are literally lodged in the body. The real true emotions that need to be expressed are in the body, trying to move up and be expressed and thereby integrated, made whole, and healed."
Dr. Pert also says
“Let the emotions bubble up. Let the chips fall where they may…the process of catharsis is not complete without saying things as the first step to experiencing things…To feel and understand means you have worked it all the way through. It has bubbled all the way to the surface. You’re integrating at higher and higher levels in the body, bringing emotions into consciousness. Once integrated, the natural wisdom of the receptors ( a take on Walter Cannon) will release interrupted healing and restorative and regenerative processes can take over."
Two Emotions that are Often Unexpressed
In our Western culture, two commonly repressed emotions are anger and fear. In fact, many of us often mistakenly call our fear-fight response anger. Learn how you can more easily recognize and healthily express your anger and fear.
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