This Is What Happens When Individual With CPTSD Bottle Up Emotions

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs as a result of exposure to traumatic events repeatedly or over an extended period. For those on this journey, expressing emotions is often a challenging task. Many individuals with CPTSD find themselves trapped in a cycle of silence, bottling up their feelings for various reasons. Yet, the consequences of such suppression can be profound, impacting every facet of life. Coach Linda Meredith shared her insights on the matter through an Instagram post titled “The Impact of Bottling Up Emotions With CPTSD.”

Increased Stress & Anxiety

When people with CPTSD are unable to express their feelings, whether it’s due to fear of confrontation or past traumas, those emotions don’t simply disappear. Instead, they accumulate and gradually grow over time, which can lead to stress and anxiety. So, expressing feelings and thoughts positively and healthily is important for people with CPTSD.

Lowered Self-Esteem

For those with CPTSD, withholding emotions can erode confidence over time. The inability to express oneself may lead to feelings of self-doubt or a sense of unworthiness. This can also leave individuals feeling trapped in a cycle of negativity.

Health Decline

Keeping your emotions bottled up can harm your health. When you don’t express how you feel, those emotions stay inside and can cause anxiety, depression, and other stress-related problems. This might lead you to turn to alcohol or drugs, which can make things worse and even cause aggressive behaviour.

Relationship Strains

Tension in a relationship typically arises when conflicts, disagreements, or challenges affect the connection, trust, or communication between individuals. This strain can result from the failure to express emotions and instead bottling them up. Unexpressed feelings lead to misunderstandings and arguments. So, individuals with CPTSD should openly communicate their feelings to their partner.

Feeling Isolated

Not sharing emotions can affect both physical and psychological health and is linked to higher rates of all-cause mortality and suicidal behaviour. Despite being surrounded by people, those with CPTSD may feel isolated in their struggles, believing that no one truly understands the depth of their emotions.