Processing Emotions in the Body

Emotions are interesting things aren’t they? For a long time we threw them out of intellectual conversation and scientific consideration as frivolous and irrational. However, we understand today that emotions are a major driver of a massive number of biological processes- and in fact play a starring role in one’s general health and well-being.

Until very recently science understood emotions as some etheric aspect of the mind. Today we have discovered that emotions reside equally in the body as an essential biological process.

In The Body Keeps the Score Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk explains in depth how our bodies store emotional information-especially trauma. This emotional information stored in the cells of our tissues throughout our body creates a “bottom-up” effect on our behavior.

In other words, sometimes it’s not your mind at all that triggers your behavior through an emotional state, but your body. Emotions are stored throughout our body- in the tissues of our muscles and connective tissue, as well as our magnetic field.

Because of this, coping with trauma or other emotional problems with intellectual or mental processes alone will not be enough. It is vital to incorporate some kind of physical processes into your therapeutic routine.

Yoga and stretching can be good for this if you incorporate mindful self-acceptance and self-love during your workouts.

Chi-gong is an ancient Chinese practice that specifically addresses energies or emotions that are stuck or misdirected in the body.

My favorite though, is the teachings of Donna Eden. Donna has a couple of great books, and you can look her up on YouTube. She intuitively created her own brand of moving energy work that can help to process emotions that are trapped in your physical and etheric bodies.

The important thing is to recognize that your mind and your body are not distinct but are completely intertwined. Experiencing emotions is an important part of our experience in this life, but when we hold onto stuff that should be allowed to flow through us, we can become lost, depressed, or sick.

Learning to address these trapped emotions holistically can lead to improved mental and physical health and allow you to engage fully in the present moment.

You got this.

Talk soon!

-Michael