Stillpoint Health : How Unresolved Emotions Affect Your Health

How Unresolved Emotions Affect Your Health

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How Unresolved Emotions Affect Your Health

21 September 2022

Ever noticed how the memory of something happy that happened to you a years ago can make you feel warm and fuzzy, decades later?

The same thing happens when you recall a traumatic event — only this time, you feel unhappy or worse. Unresolved emotions coming from childhood/past trauma, neglect, loss, anger, grief, abuse and stress can affect our present day health.

A study published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology in 2017 suggests that being in a negative emotional state affects the expression of both neurotransmitters and hormones like dopamine, low levels of which are, in turn, associated with major depressive disorder and mood disorders like bipolar disorder.

A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in 2011 explains that while people may believe that emotions do not affect the body physiologically, the fact is that the brain is the basis for all mental processes. The brain also runs every other system in the body, so it’s natural that feeling adverse emotions will affect your physical health too. Here are just a few of the effects unresolved emotions can have on your health:

1. Inflammation and pain: A study published in PNAS in 2014 suggests that when your brain tries to process emotions, it activates the cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, skeletomuscular and autonomic nervous systems. This study showed that the effects of negative emotions like anger, fear, disgust, sadness and shame can cause inflammation in the upper body. If uncontrolled or prolonged, this inflammation can turn into persistent pain.

2. Weak immune system: A 2017 study in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience suggests that the emotional and immune systems actually mirror each other. This is also the reason why people with mental disorders often suffer from immunological disorders too. Unresolved negative emotions can cause immunological disturbances and weaken the immune system enough to cause frequent bouts of illnesses or chronic diseases.

3. Cardiovascular issues: Many studies, including one in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, have shown that negative emotions like anger, grief, anxiety & depression can trigger coronary heart disease. This is because not only do these emotions lead to inflammation of the nerves but also to increased blood pressure and other risk factors associated with heart diseases.

4. Risky lifestyle behaviours: Apart from directly affecting your physical health, unresolved emotions can also trigger unhealthy lifestyle practices like smoking, alcohol abuse, binge-eating and anorexia bulimia. Apart from being addictions and disorders, these risky lifestyle behaviours are also forms of self-harm which can have a sudden or cumulative effect on your physical health.

How to deal with unresolved emotions?

I work with clients to help them recognise, process and metabolise unresolved emotions. This is not only important for our mental health, but also our physical health, we’re just never taught this in our culture and mainstream medicine often bypasses this completely!

As someone that has lived experience of this, as well as professional training and clinical experience, please know that you can message me for in complete confidence for further information or support.

You Say

" Jo is such a lovely lady who is so knowledgeable and helpful. Her holistic approach and understanding are limitless. A better therapist would be hard to find! "

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What my clients say

      
   Stillpoint Health Ltd
   7 Google reviews 
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   Kathryn Wallis (Kathryn Vintage) 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Therapy spanning consistently across 2023 with Jo has been life changing for me. I have learnt to connect to my emotions, body and thought processes in ways i never thought I could. Before I began therapy with Jo I was having regular panic attacks, my nervous system was fried from trauma and I was medicating heavily. Now, I am grounded, my mind and body feels at peace - I guess this is what you would call ‘the Still Point’. All of my sessions with Jo were online, this for me initially felt like a gamble as so much of the work requires an emotional and physical connection but through the safe space created I felt that this was not an issue. We practised cranial sacral techniques, compassionate enquiry, meditations to regulate the nervous system amongst many other techniques and lessons and not once did the online presence feel like it was a barrier. I actually found it to be a comfort to go into such deep work in my own home, my sacred space. This work has quite literally upgraded my life. From a physical health perspective but also emotionally. I feel great comfort in knowing that I have Jo as a therapist and will continue to connect, learn, and support myself with Still Point. Thank you Jo for everything you have done for me 🙏🏼
  
 
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   Adie de Putron 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It's hard to express into words what Jo has done for me in the time I have worked with her. I'm beyond grateful for the help and support I have received through both the Compassionate Inquiry and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and would highly recommend Jo to anyone who is ready to look inward and heal. The combination of her extensive knowledge, intuition, friendly, non-judgemental approach has created such a safe and supportive space. Walking into her treatment room is almost instantly relaxing; the world is left at the door. With each session I've felt lighter, brighter and brought back home to myself again and feel more equipped to take what I have learnt into my daily life. Thank you Jo. 🙏
  
 
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   Helen Quin 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo creates an incredibly nurturing and safe space where you are supportively held to turn inwards and face the challenges keeping you stuck in the trauma, and fear. Not only is she highly skilled at what she does, Jo is incredibly real and has a beautiful perspective on life. I'm so grateful.
  
 
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   Kelly H 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the pleasure of seeing Jo whilst she was training, and I have continued to see Jo on a regular basis, over the time of seeing Jo we have been through many aspects of physical ailments, tooth extraction complications, migraines, lower back pain, TMJ and including an unexpected broken tibia and fibula ,and all those lovely emotions that go hand-in-hand with physical ailments. Jo is truly a beautiful person, inside and out, her soft, gentle voice adds to the whole ease of the sessions, her knowledge and experience of life, and in-depth complex training compounds to make very powerful sessions.  You can be completely open with your thoughts and feelings with Jo, knowing that you are completely safe, and that Jo is a highly professional individual. Each session can be so different, it’s absolutely amazing the power of touch , to have a practitioner like Jo, alongside a powerful natural therapy is nothing short of a miracle, the gentle touch to feel the rhythmic movements of the central nervous system, to allow releases and bring balance. I wholeheartedly cannot thank Jo enough for being her beautiful self, and providing this profound alternative therapy to the community.
  
 
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   Samantha Roze 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. You rarely meet a Therapist that can always put 100% into every session and with Jo, you get a consistent combination of care, skill and feminine intuition. Her knowledge is endless in the realms of both chronic pain and the psychology of pain. As Jo has lived experience of this herself, she goes beyond just having empathy for her client, she truly knows how this impacts your life. Jo has a passion for her work and it not only shows in her sessions but in the material she shares; If you get a chance read some of Jo's work on her website and social media posts as this lady knows what she is talking about. Now that I have sessions with Jo I wouldn't go back to anyone else as I know I would be disappointed. Definitely 5 stars from me!
  
 
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   Emma-Jayne Sarahs 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It is clear that Jo invests heavily in her own professional development and that combined with her own lived experiences she could truly understand and be empathetic towards my personal situation. Jo is authentic and I never felt judged or uncomfortable as she held space for me in her welcoming and homely clinic space. I really felt understood and listened to by Jo as she guided me through the therapy process. During our sessions Jo worked with me using a combination of Compassionate Inquiry, developed by the renowned Gabor Maté and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. Jo has a wonderfully calming approach and really is a credible, authentic and very knowledgeable therapist. I will forever be grateful to Jo for the impact her therapy has had on my life. Jo has helped me through some very difficult times and feel so very blessed to have found her.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jason Hamon 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I went to see Jo when I was struggling with my feelings following a bereavement. She creates a safe space that makes it easy to talk and always works at a pace that is suitable for you as a client. Jo’s approach is full of care and empathy which feels very gentle, even when working through the toughest of issues. Importantly for me, she is humorous at the appropriate times and we shared laughter together as well as tears. I cannot recommend her highly enough as our work together literally changed my life.