Improving mental health by training suppression details the recent study on how proactive suppression can actually help . How to Regulate Your Emotions Without Suppressing Them
Acknowledge the feeling privately (e.g., "I am feeling very angry right now") even if you can't express it publicly .
Use it to get through a high-stakes moment, but set aside time later to actually process the emotion through journaling or therapy . Helpful Resources for Deep Dives suppress
A 2023 University of Cambridge study found that training people to suppress fearful thoughts actually reduced their anxiety and improved mental health .
Traditionally, suppression was thought to be universally maladaptive due to the "rebound effect"—the idea that the more you try to ignore a thought (like a "white bear"), the more frequently it returns . However, perspective is shifting: Improving mental health by training suppression details the
How to Regulate Emotions Without Suppressing Them offers research-backed alternatives like cognitive reappraisal .
In psychology, is the conscious and voluntary act of pushing unwanted thoughts or emotions out of your awareness . While often viewed as a harmful way to "bottle things up," recent research and clinical practice suggest its effectiveness depends heavily on how and when it is used. 1. The Conflict: Is Suppression Good or Bad? Helpful Resources for Deep Dives A 2023 University
Overuse of suppression can lead to "blunted reward responsivity," where you lose the ability to feel positive emotions as well as negative ones . It is also linked to physical stress symptoms like high blood pressure and tension headaches . 2. Suppression vs. Repression