Unresolved Childhood Trauma, Repressed Emotions and Health

When we realise the immutable connection between mind and body, between psyche and soma, we will understand how relevant this connection is regarding disease manifestation; and we will be less confronted by the notion of mind-related contributors to the causation of disease.

Separation of mind and body is still the dominant ideology in conventional healthcare, as it is within modern society as a whole. Yet, the perception of mind and body as separate is actually a commonly held misconception, as mind and body function as an integrated whole, expressing different manifestations of the one energy. In everyone and at all times.

Viewing this phenomenon through the holographic, rather than linear cause-and-effect lens, will help one understand that mind and body are inextricably linked and just dual expressions of the same fundamental life energy. Any separation lies in our interpretation of these various manifestations.

Mind, Emotions and Physiology

Emotions are the interface between mind and body; they have a psychological and a visceral component. The part of the brain most associated with our emotional content is the limbic system. The limbic system connects our neurological and endocrine systems (our communication systems). It is where mind and body interconnect and is the seat of the vast subconscious mind. It is where our emotional reactions to our experiences play such a critical role and where mind entrains the body. Whereas the cerebral cortex, particularly the pre-frontal cortex, the executive, rational part of the brain, is the seat of our conscious mind. Putting it simply.

A vital part of the limbic system, called the hypothalamus, influences the autonomic nervous system, which innervates, and thus controls, the functioning of our inner organs and physiological systems. It also regulates our endocrine (hormonal) system via its connections to the pituitary gland, which further coordinates the functioning of the body’s various glands and their respective hormonal outputs. This is happening on a moment-to-moment basis, with the vast majority of it at an unconscious level. Generally, we do not consciously beat our own hearts.

So, it is not difficult to see, from a physiological perspective, how the mind, and its associated physical organ of the brain, is affecting our body on a perpetual basis through these neuroendocrine connections. Actually, it is a no-brainer (pun intended!).

The energetic association between mind and body is a whole other discussion, beyond the scope of this article, and one that proponents of the body’s energy systems, such as meridians and chakras, would be well aware of. It is understood that mind and emotions play an essential role in the functioning, or dysfunction, of these energy systems. I have no doubt that our more subtle energy systems and more tangible physical systems work together as an interactive whole.

All incoming information, from within the body and externally, is relayed through the brain, which enacts a response that further directs the body to react to the given circumstances – in order to fulfill what is needed in the moment. For example, if we are hungry, we will seek food and if there is no immediate food available, the body will elicit a response to release glycogen in order to elevate the blood glucose level from within the body (which of course is a temporary solution until food is available).

The brain’s response to incoming information is coloured by perception, which is related to what has been previously experienced and very much includes emotional responses and beliefs related to those previous experiences. For example, if there is a past, unintegrated experience of personal or ancestral food shortage or starvation, this will include memories, emotions and beliefs stored related to those events; therefore, a real or feared lack of food or a lowering of the blood glucose level is likely to be perceived as a greater threat to one’s system compared to those who have not had similar past experiences - and the body will respond accordingly. (Studies have demonstrated that ancestral memories of trauma can epigenetically influence the expression of the descendants’ genes.)

It has been estimated that about 95% of the mind is unconscious (I will use the terms ‘unconscious’ and ‘subconscious’ interchangeably, though there are subtle differences) and 5% conscious. The physiological systems of the body, which are so connected to the unconscious mind, will respond to cope with the real or imagined threat, as perceived by the unconscious mind. This is happening continually to maintain homeostasis, i.e., the balanced functioning of the body.

A short-term body adaptation will not be a problem, and in fact can be life-saving; however, if the adaptation becomes chronic and out-of-balance with the rest of the system, and particularly if it is related to unresolved past traumas and current events that trigger them, it likely will eventually cause malfunction of the body.

The Impact of Suppressed Emotions on the Body

Emotions hold energy, as Dr David R. Hawkins’ famous ‘Map of Consciousness’ well demonstrates. The body will be affected accordingly by the energy of emotions, and more so if they remain entrenched within, rather than flow through, our system.

Think of one moment of anger, fear or joy, and note the immediate physiological correlates and related body sensations. The body feels very different in response to these different emotional energies. Emotions have energy and this energy eventually finds an outlet and this is often within the physical if not dissipated at the level of the psyche. What is repressed within the unconscious mind is trying to express itself and this is often through the body unless addressed at the psychological level.

So, if emotions remain repressed at an unconscious level, they will have an ongoing effect on the body consistent with the energy of the emotions.

It is because the unconscious mind and the body are so linked through those neuroendocrine and energetic connections, that repressed emotions (particularly the lower vibration emotions) can adversely affect the physiological functioning, eventually giving rise to symptoms and disease. And then, when symptoms get our attention, we usually focus on and treat the physical effects rather than the significant contributing factors related to the mind; though sometimes we recognise these phenomena as a ‘wake-up calls’.

If emotions naturally come and go, give us the information they are designed to give and then flow out of our system once their job is done, they will not be a problem, particularly if we are consciously aware of and present with them. However, if the lower vibrational, so-called ‘negative emotions’ become repressed for a significant amount of time and are of a significant potency, they can adversely affect our bodies down to a cellular level and very specifically.

There are always physical circumstances related to illness, as we live in a physical dimension (at least according to our consensus reality); however, mind-related factors will increase our susceptibility, or not, to the physical circumstances. Some would even go further to suggest that mind-related factors actually cause body dysfunction despite external circumstances. This makes more sense for those who believe that consciousness encompasses all phenomena, including our deemed external reality.

Of course, we do need to treat and support the physical, particularly in an emergency situation; however, this should not exclude also addressing the psyche when the timing is right. These approaches are not mutually exclusive and, ideally, both be utilised for overall healing.

If we allow, our body’s malfunctions can lead us to what we so need to address within our psyche; though, as yet, this approach has certainly not been accepted within our modern, health care paradigm. Though numerous studies have affirmed the mind-body connection, many of the nuances are simply not measurable within the confines and limits of the consensus scientific ‘evidence-based’ model.

Childhood Trauma

It is our emotional reactions to our experiences, and the related beliefs, that have the most potent impact on our bodies and more so if these emotions remain repressed or ‘blocked’ and are related to non-integration of those experiences. As previously stated, it is the entrenched, lower vibrational emotions that reside at an unconscious level, rather than the fleeting emotions that naturally come and go in reaction to our day-to-day experiences, that have the most impact on our biological systems.

This discussion is especially relevant for those who have experienced significant trauma, particularly childhood developmental and attachment trauma. ‘Trauma’ includes any adverse experience that might significantly threaten body, mind and spirit, overwhelm the system, and for which there is no immediate solution or relief.

We are particularly vulnerable during childhood, a time when our body systems, mental capacities and emotional selves are in the process of developing and a long way from maturity. It is much easier to develop a glitch in the system during these more sensitive developmental phases of our lives. If an infant or child, while in the process of developing its complex and delicate neuroendocrine system, is immersed in a threatening, adverse environment, this cannot help but have an adverse effect on the harmonious functioning of his or her mind and body.

It is not always the most obvious isolated traumas that cause the most adverse long-term effects. Trauma very much includes neglect and not having one’s normal developmental physical and emotional needs met. Sometimes it is the pervasive background atmosphere of the environment in which one was raised, and how one was generally regarded and treated by their early care-givers, that can have the most adverse long-term effects. These types of early experiences are also harder to recognise and call-out, particularly after the passage of many years.

We all have our own individual predispositions, related to a multitude of factors, that will make us more vulnerable, or not, to any give circumstance. However, trauma of a significant degree will impact anyone, child or adult, and give rise to painful emotions; and, because of the nature of life on this planet, no-one escaped some trauma or adverse experiences, vicariously if not directly.

Though clearly some individuals experienced significantly less adversity than others, the myth of the ‘perfect childhood’ can indicate a level of suppression and denial of the challenges of life on this planet that most of us share to some extent. We generally tend to underplay how difficult experiences impacted us in our early years.

Unhealed, unintegrated, and often long-forgotten, past difficult experiences and traumas, maintain the related emotions and core beliefs subliminally within the system. We repress them for a reason; they are painful and therefore, we feel very threatened by them, particularly if they arose at an early developmental stage when we might not have had the ego strength, and very little support or resources, to cope with them.

The fear, related to the child self, is being utterly swamped and overwhelmed by them because they often represented a threat to their very existence; however, we can train the mature adult-self, rather than the wounded inner child, to deal with those painful emotions and embrace them with presence and compassion. This alone will help their integration.

Emotions, Beliefs and the Body

The young child develops all sorts of conclusions, meanings and beliefs in an attempt to make sense of their experiences and create some ground-rules for life. Those early beliefs, generated as a result of adverse experiences, can become core beliefs that are generalised onto all of life and very much influence one’s reaction to subsequent life experiences. When formulated pre-verbally, beliefs, like emotions, can be very visceral and more related to energy, feeling and sensation than to words or concepts.

Our beliefs about life can affect the physiological functioning of our bodies very specifically. Different beliefs related to different areas of life will very precisely affect different organs and physiological systems. It is not a nebulous case of stress causing random illness. For example, a significant issue related to ‘care of self versus care of others’, with its associated beliefs and behaviours, is a central theme (amongst others) that can specifically affect breast tissue.

These beliefs and their related emotions, unless brought out of hiding and positively adjusted, can have a direct and enduring effect on the biology. It is not difficult to see how when we understand that a child’s physiological systems are developing in response to, and in order to cope with, the environment in which they have found themselves. And within which they have limited options to defend themselves, and from which there is usually no escape.

The bottom-line belief is – ‘Is the world a safe place and I am safe in it and can confidently explore and embrace life, and freely express who I am; or, ‘Is it a dangerous place and I need to be constantly vigilant and on guard, or appeasing or collapsed, and shape myself into other than who I really am, in order to survive it?’

Obviously, these different belief patterns will have very different effects on one’s physiology, particularly if enduring. Being relaxed or vigilant emotionally, equates to be relaxed or vigilant physiologically. Being in a chaotic, unpredictable environment when young, gives rise to chaotic emotions and contributes to chaotic dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system which, in its normal state, regulates the functioning of our organs and body systems to maintain homeostasis.

It is not difficult to see how many people who experience significant early life adversity, experience ongoing dysfunction of certain body systems such as the gastrointestinal tract, unless and until that early trauma is resolved.

Body Intelligence

We need to be aware that our conscious and unconscious minds speak very different languages, as do the left and right sides of the brain; and our biology, which is connected to our vast unconscious mind, has a very different intelligence and rationale to our conscious intellect. However, we try to understand it all through our left brain dominated intellects, which has its usefulness, but also limitations unless we can also hold a deeper awareness of our biological intelligence and are willing to explore these areas.

The language of the unconscious mind is metaphor, analogy and symbology, rather than concepts and words, and is expressed through sensations, movements, feelings and energy.

The body is the faithful servant to the unconscious mind and its directives. It is trying to survive the moment and will do what it feels it needs to do to ensure that. In a holographic fashion, the body can be a like metaphor for what one holds in consciousness. If all is going well within one’s psyche (and there is no potent external physical threat), the body will function harmoniously, as it is designed to do. If there is a significant, enduring and unresolved issue in the mind, such as an unresolved trauma with its associated aberrant beliefs and emotions, this will be reflected, in like, in the physiological functioning.

The body is always trying to adapt to perceived problems and issues that we hold in our unconscious mind, particularly to perceived threats and unmet needs. Emotions arise in response to unmet needs, particularly what we believe threatens our primal survival needs; and the body will adapt, according to its own biological intelligence, to those unmet needs and threats. As previously stated, some of those adaptations are heavily influenced by past unresolved significant traumas and adverse experiences and, paradoxically, can eventually manifest as symptoms and illness, or more so, what we label as such.

Adaptations in order to Survive

Mind and body are continually adapting to the environment in which one is immersed, especially when young. If a child’s environment and her caregivers were not safe, she quickly adapts in order to survive, and these adaptations have a direct and often enduring effect on her brain, mind and body. Until resolved and integrated.

The adaptations are not only behavioural; also, very much physical. Studies have consistently demonstrated that significant early childhood trauma will affect the structure and function of the brain, which will have a downward effect on the rest of the body. It is not just a matter of snapping out of it as some would suggest, as it is wired in. The body carries the trauma.

Of course, some of the adaptations did help one survive; so, we might tenaciously, and usually unconsciously, tightly hold onto them, as our system associates them with our very survival. It is the same with some of our fixed beliefs, as unconsciously we equate them with how to best navigate and cope with life. We are very resilient and extraordinarily clever in finding ways to ensure our survival; yet, what might originally have been a necessary adaptation in early life, might later become detrimental to mental and physical health and behaviour.

When, as a child, one was not safe, part of the adaptation was to become a version(s) of the self that the child believed could best survive their circumstances and, by extension, life in general. This might well remove them from their authentic selves and compel them to mould themselves into a persona that they believe significant others, and society in general, will accept, as acceptance at a primal level means inclusion within ‘the tribe’ and, thus, survival.

Of course, this is usually an unconscious process, with the beliefs usually remaining at that level; yet, from where they exert an enormous influence on mind, body, behaviour and the outworking of one’s life. For example, ‘Do I need to present a perfect version of myself and do things perfectly in order to gain acceptance, and thus survive?’ ‘Do I need to be the care-taking, self-depreciating people-pleaser or the tough, defensive rebel in order to cope with life?’

Being removed from our authentic selves and living behind a mask, a persona that we believed we had to create (usually unconsciously) in order to survive, generates a conflict within our system that cannot help but disturb mind and body.

Societal Influences on Our Emotional Selves

Our society honours the intellect but not so much our emotional selves. So, one can be very intellectually adept, yet might still have significant emotional immaturity in some areas. Emotions will not mature beyond the level of when they were repressed. And of course, over-intellectualising can be a defence (amongst many others) from feeling painful emotions and the reality of one’s early experiences.

We also, generally, have great resistance to engaging emotions that society, culture, family and ourselves have judged as somehow bad or wrong; or more so, that we are somehow bad or wrong in having them. Our adult ego very often does not want to be associated or identified with what we have rejected within ourselves, aided and abetted by society’s renouncement and denial of those less glossy and often painful emotions. Many people do not want to risk the vulnerability that the process of revealing those hidden emotions might entail.

However, we cannot change that of which we are unaware.

It takes a lot of energy to impede that flow of emotions and keep them locked away, as it goes against their very nature to flow and inform us. Especially when we were young, it was a necessary short-term ploy in order to not be overwhelmed by them; an age-appropriate survival mechanism. However, many years down the track what was once a useful strategy, becomes stagnating, growth impeding and detrimental.

The positive thinking brigade can be in denial of or very dismissive of the more painful, ‘negative’ emotions that are part of the human experience. The risk of this approach is encouraging further suppression of emotions that need to be released from our systems. And the release involves feeling them in order to move them out of their unconscious positioning. Putting a veneer of ‘positive’ emotions over a raw mess of difficult, unresolved feelings will be far from effective in the long run. Those who have not experienced significant trauma can lack understanding of, and be very judgemental of, those who have.

Often the societally condoned, surface emotions hide those deeper, more painful and impactful emotions that we might not want to engage. For example, anger or sadness might be more socially acceptable than powerlessness, terror or rage and thus be the emotions more likely to be superficially felt and expressed.

The surface emotions that often come to the fore when triggered by current life circumstances, can distract us from the more potent, deeper emotions and, in fact, potentially reinforce rather than heal the original wounding. They take on a life of their own and the energy remains focussed on them and the related story (the trigger) while the deeper emotions might become further repressed and buried.

Emotions that we experienced at a very early age, particularly when pre-verbal, might not even have a name or definition and be more of a somatic, sensory experience that is beyond description and not associated with a narrative; and thus, harder to recognise. There is always a sensory and visceral component to any deep emotion. They reside at the interface between mind and body; the meeting place of psyche and soma.

If there is no conscious awareness of them, potent pre-verbal emotions that remain stuck in our system can express themselves more so at the sensory, visceral level and potentially give rise to ‘symptoms’ that might be interpreted as having only a physical component. Our medical and societal cultures encourage us to focus on the physical effects and often at the expense of those oft long-forgotten and suppressed early experiences and related deep emotions.

Repressed Emotions Shut-down the Signals

Emotions are ‘energy in motions’, as they say, designed to flow, to inform us with their signals, and then move out of our system. If we shut out the signals, we cannot address and adjust what the emotions are trying to tell us and what caused them in the first place. They are giving us information about what is beneficial or harmful to our system; what is life supporting or life depleting.

They also give us an indication of the underlying beliefs and resultant attitudes and defences that might not serve us and that we would benefit from adjusting. Frozen, repressed emotions will hold in place and ingrain those related beliefs and attitudes and behaviourally manifest as defence mechanisms.

When an aspect of the individual is repressed, it loses its connection to the whole of the system, becoming shut off from the system’s overarching coordinating energy; and thus, it cannot help but stagnate in distorted ways. It will also be cut off from the feedback from the external reality, not allowing adjustments, the checks and balances, that contribute to a healthier interaction with life.

What is repressed, hidden, shut-off and disconnected from the whole, will not have that exchange of information that enables coordinated and healthy functioning. Those shut-off aspects cannot grow and evolve as they might if that exchange of information were not blocked. Those subjugated and hidden parts become autonomous, with any distortions not having the opportunity for positive adjustments as a result of feedback from the system as a whole and the ongoing process of external life.

It is not difficult to see how significantly suppressed, and thus distorted, aspects of our mind can affect the body in like. The shut-off parts of the psyche that are disconnected from the whole, become autonomous and therefore not subject to the normal feedback and cooperative functioning within the whole of the mind-body system.

This is similar to how groups of cancer cells function: autonomous; on their own mission and trajectory; not responding to the normal checks and balances that maintains harmonious body functioning; and not working co-operatively with, and being regardless of, the whole.

This is why getting to know and integrate those shut-off aspects, rather than further rejecting them, will invite a healthier outcome. And the body will respond in like.

The Healing Path

Regarding body and psyche, the bottom line to be addressed, healed and integrated, is usually unresolved trauma and, particularly, unresolved childhood trauma – and all that stems from that.

When our core emotions are felt and expressed, they are more likely to dissipate, and the related experiences be integrated. Bringing conscious awareness, alone, to those emotions, will help their release while encouraging helpful insights to flow. The associated beliefs and attitudes will loosen and be given the opportunity to positively adjust; though this, of course, takes some conscious work and determination as negative patterns, attitudes and behaviours will not just magically change when the trauma is healed.

It is the same with the body; those tenacious adjustments, perceived by the system to be necessary for survival, might take some time and encouragement to re-balance.

When we bring consciousness to the core emotions, feel and express them, they cannot stay the same; flow has started. A thawing of sorts. Conscious awareness from a higher aspect of the self, allows enough distance from the emotions to observe them rather than be overwhelmed and taken over by them, which could be re-traumatising. It is not about re-living the trauma; it is about shifting it out of our system, while retaining the insights and wisdom lessons.

No healing occurs in a stuck, frozen space, where there is no movement and change. Life is about movement and change and what our mind cannot acknowledge, engage, be guided by and act on, our body will do it for us, and often in uncomfortable ways. Blockages and stagnation are the antithesis to the flow of life and will reflect in the body in like.

The name of the game is to bring (with appropriate support and timing) what so affects us from its unconscious positioning, to conscious awareness where we can effect change. Clear conscious awareness, alone, will help to dissipate unhealthy unconscious mind content. What we put on the table and observe, allows us a different perspective and helps bring flexibility to fixed beliefs and attitudes.

It is about acknowledging and understanding those aspects of ourselves, with their associated emotions and beliefs, that so affect us – mind and body – from the shadows. The process involves compassionately enfolding and integrating those hidden, exiled parts while encouraging beneficial adjustments and also welcoming their long-buried gifts. A return to wholeness.

The original wounds that gave rise to these phenomena in the first place need to be acknowledged, processed and healed; the trauma released. The parts that got frozen in the timeless trauma need to be embraced and welcomed back to the whole. Then there can be a lightening of the system and room for the life-affirming, uplifting emotions and beliefs that also got buried as a result of the trauma.

This of course needs to be done with care, compassion and appropriate guidance because those painful emotions can indeed overwhelm a vulnerable system and, as a result, cause all sorts of backlash and problems when one is pushing too fast. Some people, as adults, remain very susceptible to emotional overwhelm and might have significant psychopathologies that require expert guidance from appropriately trained and trusted professionals in order to help them safely engage these areas.

The client’s delicately balanced system has its own wisdom regarding when, and if, to venture there. Maybe there is also, and particularly, a Divine timing. The process is about allowing, supporting and guiding, never forcing.

Also, life has a way of triggering those long forgotten and deeply buried emotions and bringing them to the fore. It is so they can be felt, which will start the process of releasing them from the system. Better out than in. It is safer if this is done with conscious awareness and sometimes guidance that might safely lead one to the original wounding that current circumstances have triggered. It really is best to not put that lid back on, though many people will employ all sorts of defences and distractions in their attempts to do so.

There are many methodologies that all have their merits and can help support this process; and some that will particularly address the mind-body connection for those who want and are courageous enough to explore the mind related contributors to their health issues and do the necessary work to turn things around. This does take some lateral thinking and openness to new concepts as we usually do not connect the dots regarding these associations between unresolved trauma, mind, emotions and the body.

As yet, these understandings do not generally fit into our societal and medical belief systems and, thus, we still have little consensus or language for the mind-body area of health care. It is an evolving area, matching our evolution of human consciousness. We certainly do not have all the answers. Maybe we are not meant to. Maybe an element of mystery, as to why we experience certain life and health challenges, is part of the growth process.

Though talking and insight is definitely helpful, this alone will not do the healing; there has to be an experiential element to reach those deeper unconscious layers that so affect our psychological and physical health and wellbeing. Currently, there is a general resistant to going there, though I believe this will change as people are becoming more disillusioned with the one-dimensional physical approach to healthcare.

Particularly, the healing journey involves unravelling the conditioning and programming that has removed us from our natural selves. And it is that very programming that prevents many health practitioners and the populace in general from even considering a mind-body approach to health issues. For most people, it is still a more acceptable notion to treat the body like it is a machine separate from consciousness and put energy into finding the next ‘miracle cure’.

All true healing work can at times be confronting and uncomfortable - yet eventually liberating. Though others can guide, no-one can do the work for us; there has to be a high degree of self-responsibility. There is no avoiding some ‘shadow work’ and getting to some raw truths beyond our conditioned personas. As said, we cannot change that of which we are unaware. Healing is really about getting to know, and unconditionally accept ourselves at a very deep level.

In my opinion, though there might be many helpful steps along the way, there is no ‘quick fix’; it is very much a process, and a life journey for some. There is no end-point as we are ever evolving and ever learning. I wonder if there is even such a phenomenon as a completely healed state while we are in human form on this planet.

The overall healing process is to bring about self-awareness, deep insight, self-responsibility, authenticity and, ultimately - genuine self-love and self-empowerment.

Dr Catherine Fyans is a retired medical practitioner, trauma-informed therapist, mind-body consultant and the author of ‘The Wounding of Health Care: From Fragmentation to Integration’