Shake It Out

Fully expressing emotions is part of being human. It is within our nature to be emotional: we feel love, anger, or joy in everyday life.  Our bodies are designed to be emotional as well. Generally, we do not think of emotions in terms of the physical body, but no part of who we are functions independently. Emotions and the physical body are directly linked. Biochemically, many different reactions take place when we feel a strong emotion. Neurotransmitter levels fluctuate up or down, hormones are released, and neuropeptides contribute to the longer term effects. 

It has become part of our culture to ‘be strong’ and keep tight hold of our emotions. But this can have very negative effects on our bodies! Strong emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and grief are meant to be experienced, move through, and then out of our bodies. We often resist this urge however. We hold back tears, grit our teeth through anger, or eat/drink/smoke away loneliness. These numbing behaviors are direct roadblocks to experiencing a full and authentic life. These behaviors also prevent the ‘All Clear’ signal from being sent to our nervous system so we get stuck in a cycle of ‘Fight or Flight’ and a stressed out state of being. This leads to numerous health conditions like elevated levels of inflammation, ulcers, headaches, heart disease, or even diabetes. 

So what are some healthy ways to experience these strong emotions? The first thing is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Recognize that a part of being human is feeling. Then give your body an outlet to express and release the emotion. Crying is one very natural way to do this. Tears have been found to contain stress hormones and other toxins indicating it is one way the body rids itself of these waste products. It also triggers the resting and calming side of our nervous system. So cry when you feel like it! When you are angry, find a safe and appropriate place to be angry! Curse, stop your feet, through a squishy ball or pillow at a wall. Anxiety often needs to be shaken off. Try shaking your arms and legs, imagining the worry and anxiety falling off of you. Jump up and down and jostle it out of the body. Dancing can be another useful tool for shedding negative emotions and ushering in the positive.

So next time you find yourself turning towards something that numbs, take a minute and think about an action that might better serve you in that moment. I bet you’ll find more contentment and joy on the other side of that release. 

***The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.***