Your body is more than just a vessel—it’s a map of your emotional life. Unprocessed emotions, from anger to grief to fear, don’t just vanish; they often lodge themselves in your physical being, manifesting as tension, pain, or other discomforts. At the Institute of Body Psychotherapy, we see this every day in our work with Core Energetics, a somatic approach that helps people reconnect with their bodies to release these stored emotions.
Here are five physical signs that your body might be holding onto unresolved emotions—and how to recognize them in your daily life.
1. Chronic Muscle Tension
Do your shoulders feel perpetually tight? Does your jaw clench without you noticing? Chronic muscle tension, especially in the neck, shoulders, or back, is a common sign of unprocessed emotions. Anger or stress often settles in these areas, creating a physical armor that protects you from feeling vulnerable but also restricts your emotional flow.
How to Recognise It: Notice if your muscles feel tight even when you’re not physically active. Do you catch yourself hunching your shoulders or grinding your teeth during stressful moments? This tension might be your body holding onto emotions you haven’t fully expressed.
2. Persistent Fatigue or Low Energy
Feeling exhausted despite getting enough sleep? Unresolved emotions like sadness or suppressed grief can weigh heavily on your body, sapping your vitality. This isn’t just mental fatigue—it’s a deep, physical heaviness that makes even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
How to Recognise It: Pay attention to whether your tiredness feels disproportionate to your activities. Do you feel drained after emotional interactions or when thinking about certain memories? This could be your body signaling unprocessed emotional weight.
3. Unexplained Aches and Pains
Sudden or recurring pain in your back, chest, or joints—without a clear physical cause—can point to stored emotions. For example, heartache or betrayal might manifest as chest tightness, while fear or insecurity could show up as lower back pain. In Core Energetics, we view these pains as the body’s way of speaking what the mind hasn’t processed.
How to Recognise It: Reflect on when the pain started. Does it flare up during specific situations, like conflict or stress? If medical causes are ruled out, these aches might be linked to emotional holding patterns.
4. Shallow Breathing or Holding Your Breath
Your breath is a bridge between your body and emotions. When you’re holding onto fear, anxiety, or suppressed anger, you might unconsciously restrict your breathing—taking shallow, chest-only breaths or even holding your breath entirely. This limits your body’s energy flow and keeps emotions stuck.
How to Recognise It: Observe your breathing during moments of stress or emotional triggers. Do you feel like you’re not getting enough air, or do you catch yourself holding your breath? Shallow breathing often signals emotional avoidance.
5. Digestive Issues or Gut Discomfort
The gut is often called the “second brain” because of its deep connection to emotions. Unresolved feelings like anxiety, shame, or unexpressed anger can manifest as stomach pain, bloating, or irregular digestion. Your gut might be trying to process what your mind hasn’t.
How to Recognise It: Notice if digestive issues arise during or after emotional events, like arguments or stressful workdays. If dietary changes don’t fully explain the discomfort, it could be tied to emotional storage in the body.
Why This Matters
Holding onto unresolved emotions doesn’t just affect your body—it dims your emotional awareness, strains your relationships, and disconnects you from joy. Over time, these physical signs can lead to chronic stress or even illness if left unaddressed. The good news? Your body is also the key to healing.
In Core Energetics, we use movement, breath, and energetic awareness to help you release these stored emotions. By tuning into your body’s signals—rather than overriding them—you can begin to process what’s been held inside. This isn’t about analyzing your feelings but feeling them in your body, whether through a deep breath, a stretch, or a guided somatic exercise.
How to Start Releasing Stored Emotions
- Pause and Sense: Take a moment each day to scan your body. Where do you feel tension, heaviness, or discomfort? Simply noticing is the first step.
- Breathe Deeply: Practice slow, diaphragmatic breathing to reconnect with your body and release emotional blocks.
- Move Your Body: Gentle movement, like stretching or shaking out your limbs, can help loosen stored emotions.
- Seek Support: Working with a somatic therapist trained in Core Energetics can guide you to safely process and release emotions.
If you recognize these signs in yourself, you’re not alone. Many of us were taught to disconnect from our bodies to cope or succeed. But reconnection is possible—and it’s transformative. At the Institute of Body Psychotherapy, we help people come home to their bodies, reclaim their vitality, and live more fully in the present.Ready to explore this journey? Join us to learn how somatic practices like Core Energetics can help you release what’s been held and rediscover your aliveness.
Individual & Couples Sessions in Brisbane & Sunshine Coast
Whether you’re on a healing journey or simply feeling out of touch with yourself, body psychotherapy offers a space reconnect and realign with what matters most.
Andrea Alexander offers body psychotherapy sessions in both Brisbane (Kelvin Grove) and the Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore), as well as online.
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