Managing our emotions can often be complicated. Sometimes it is necessary to mitigate them, remain silent, and keep calm in moments of stress. We do not want them to harm our relationships. But other times, what works the most to help keep our relationships is to speak out and express what we are thinking and feeling. After all, letting out all that we are feeling as well as thinking can help us see things from a different perspective. Nevertheless, what you might not be aware of is that both behaviors can have significant effects on your health.
Auto silence is a kind of behavior people engage in when they are afraid to express their real emotions. If properly externalized, they worry their feelings might affect their relationships with people close to them in some way, things such as family members, friends as well as employers. They choose auto silence just because they dread having to start a fight or disagreement, being the cause of an argument, or breaking up a relationship.
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) did a study where they researched 304 married women who were near or after the age of menopause. They reported experiencing particular emotions about putting someone else’s needs before their own, such as self-silencing, to avoid hurting a relationship. That type of behavior was met with bouts of constipation, an increase in cholesterol levels, depression, and obesity.
One of the things that researchers measured was the frequency at which these women had anger or euphoria outbursts. They addressed these as moments that they were able to let their emotions out by raising the volume of their voice as well as verbally stating what made them feel frustrated. Those who showed that behavior more often registered as having better health than those that didn’t. They also experienced the benefits of preventing the repression of those emotional states.
Maintaining a facade of joy as well as staying calm does not mean that this state is real. It’s a behavior that’s related to a higher sensitivity to rejection. A permanent state of alertness that triggers the levels of stress are closely associated with the decrease of life expectancy in both men as well as women worldwide. During these episodes, blood pressure as well as glucose levels rise, so the chance of developing a cardiovascular condition increases.
Even though raising our voices from time to time to let go of negative emotions can be liberating, we should also consider that it enables us to say things that do not help our relationships. In another experiment carried out with cancer patients, women demonstrated some improvements by openly expressing their emotions. On the other hand, progress slowed when negative feelings were commonplace. For this reason, it’s good to remember that showing respect for you and those around you is essential to maintain a healthier body and relationships.
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