If you see a boiling pot with its lid still sitting on top, what do you think you should do? Should you lower the heat or ignore this sight? I mean, if you don't want the water to spill over the place, one thing to do is to turn off the stove, right? Now imagine if the pot represents you, and the water reflects your emotion inside if you keep all your feelings to yourself, eventually, it will burst all over the place.
Many Gen Zs are afraid to let out what they truly feel because being honest means they will lose a friendship or taint a relationship, and they prefer to bottle up those emotions inside. Even between their family members, opening up is never in the options because they will only end up being shunned by their family, along with such sayings like, "Man up!" or "You should feel grateful." From this event alone, no wonder why a lot of them prefer to lock their feelings inside.
Another reason why some people tend to hold back their feelings correlates with the fear of the consequences that bear with it; confrontations, shame, guilt, reputation you name it all. There's a fear of how they will appear weak (for men most of the time, which comes across as a form of toxic masculinity if you ask me), or some would prefer keeping all the emotions to themselves, which is also pretty common.
But hey, hear me out! Bottling up your emotions is bad. It may seem like the easiest and safest way to get over the negative emotions inside you, but it can be dangerous just like the aforementioned boiling pot analogy. Things will get messy, and it won't do anyone a favor.
Suppressing your innermost feelings can affect your body and mind. When you bottle up negative emotions like anxiety, anger, or sorrow it can disrupt the normal function of your stress hormone, cortisol. Moreover, the risk of developing chronic illness and mental health disorders will increase if you don't healthily manage your emotions. Research from Harvard Medical School stated that bottling up your emotions can lead you to have digestive problems such as vomiting, bloating, and constipation.
A study from the University of Texas found that not acknowledging your feelings could only make them stronger. The cold truth is, you can't avoid or escape from your feelings. No matter how hard you try to suppress them, it won't go away that easily (trust me, I'm a Scorpio). Even if you resort to coping mechanisms like watching movies, crying while having a sad playlist being on loop, down to drinking all night your feelings will only surface at some other time.
It's also bad news if you're used to holding back all your emotions for a long period because it will only make you find it harder to express what you truly feel. You will never know when is the right time to address them; hence your messages are not getting across. Plus, it will leave you overthinking and feeling anxious for a long time, which will drain your mental health. So, if you think that bottling up your emotions is a good short-term solution, think about how it might backfire.
I know it's challenging, but if you already acknowledge how bottling up your feelings will only lead to a greater mess, then it's suitable to learn how to deal with your emotions healthily. You need to know the source and cause of your negative emotions. Start by asking yourself what made you feel upset or angry before continuing to the next step. Think of this as forming a connection to your inner self. Once you know the answer, it will be easier to handle your negative feelings.
In the end, it's best to address all your feelings to someone or onto something. If you have someone you trust and someone who listens to you without judgment, maybe their presence will help you ease and alleviate the unresolved feelings. You can also try to pour down your emotions onto a journal, whichever you like.
