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5 Signs You’re Bottling Up Your Emotions
#2 — You Distract Yourself Whenever You Feel Uncomfortable
Have you ever put a dry ice in a bottle? As the CO2 turns into gas, the bottle gradually expands with pressure until with a sudden pop the bottle explode and bottling dry ice is exactly like bottling up your emotions.
There’s a time limit before the metaphorical bottle explodes and it can be hard to release the pressure. The first step in properly processing your emotions is to recognize that you’re closing yourself off from them.
Here are the five signs you’re bottling up your emotions.
1. You Rarely Express but You Erupt over Small Issues
Let’s say your partner drops a cup and breaks it while washing the dishes and you suddenly feel your blood boiling with this overwhelming anger. Your outburst over this relatively minor issue can be a sign of deeper, more suppressed issues in your relationship or personal life.
In a study by University of Texas, researchers had one group of subjects watch horrifyingly disgusting film scenes while suppressing any reaction or emotion they felt. Afterwards the first group was significantly more aggressive than the other group of subjects who were allowed to express themselves.