Are you good about expressing your emotions? Being able to share your feelings is important and new research shows that bottling them up can have major health consequences - both mentally and physically.
A new study from The North American Menopause Society looked at health data from 304 women, including ultrasound imaging showing any build up in their arteries. They were also asked about how they act in their personal relationships, including how much they agree with statements like: “caring means putting the other person’s needs in front of my own,” and “I rarely express anger to those close to me.”
And it turns out, the women who “self-silenced” - or didn’t speak up to avoid conflict - were more likely to experience cardiovascular complications. They were found to have more build-up of plaque in their arteries, which can lead to stroke and other serious heart conditions.
Plus, biting your tongue can have a negative impact on your mental state as well. Not expressing what you’re experiencing, whether that’s anger, frustration, or sadness, can raise levels of cortisol - a stress hormone - and over time the stress can impact physical health and increase the risk of diabetes, memory issues, anxiety and depression. So if you tend to bury your feelings, it may be time to work on that because your health depends on it.
Source:Women's Health