Why Feeling Your Feelings Isn’t as Woo-Woo as It Sounds (And How It Helps Your Health)
Let’s be real:
“Feel your feelings” sounds like something printed on a sage green mug next to a crystal shop and a yoga studio that only plays Bon Iver.
But here’s the thing—underneath the soft, spiritual packaging?
There’s science. And feeling your feelings is not just “woo-woo”… it’s actually one of the most evidence-based things you can do for your nervous system, your relationships, and your physical health.
Wait… Why Are We Even Talking About This?
Because not feeling your feelings—aka repressing, avoiding, rationalizing, numbing, or shoving them down with caffeine and productivity—has a cost.
Especially if you’ve been raised (like so many Utah women) to be polite, selfless, and emotionally “low maintenance.”
So when you snap at your partner out of nowhere, cry over a Pinterest ad, or get a “mystery” migraine during stressful weeks... That’s not random. That’s your body doing the talking—because you ignored the emotional memo.
What Happens When You Avoid Your Emotions?
In short: your nervous system gets the message that something’s wrong, but doesn’t know how to resolve it.
So you might experience:
Anxiety that feels vague or constant
Chronic tension, digestive issues, or hormonal disruptions
Random bursts of anger or irritability
Emotional shutdown (feeling numb or flatlined)
Insomnia or overactive thoughts
A sense of disconnection from yourself
Your body holds onto unfelt emotions like a full inbox. And unfortunately, there’s no “mark all as read” button when it comes to your inner world.
The Neuroscience Behind “Feeling Your Feelings”
Okay, nerd moment. Here’s what actually happens in the brain:
When you acknowledge an emotion (like fear, sadness, or anger) without judgment—just noticing it, naming it, and letting it be there for a moment—you activate the prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain that regulates emotion.
Simultaneously, this calms the amygdala, the fear center of the brain that’s always scanning for danger.
In simple terms?
Naming an emotion helps your body process it. Ignoring it just makes your system go haywire.
Feeling your feelings is literal regulation. It helps your nervous system return to baseline. And the more you practice it, the easier it gets.
What It Actually Looks Like to Feel Your Feelings
This isn’t about sobbing in public (unless you want to—no shame). It can be really simple.
Try this:
Pause — Put your phone down, close your eyes, and ask: “What am I feeling right now?”
Name it — “I feel anxious.” “I feel sad.” “I feel jealous.” (Not: “I shouldn’t feel this way.” Just: I feel it.)
Notice where it lives in your body — Chest? Shoulders? Gut? Let yourself feel it physically.
Breathe into it — No fixing, no analyzing. Just breathing and letting it move.
Let it pass — Like a wave, not a permanent state.
That’s it. That’s the work.
So… How Does This Help Your Health?
Glad you asked. Feeling your feelings:
Lowers cortisol (stress hormone)
Improves digestion and gut health (yep, emotions affect your microbiome)
Boosts immune function (your body chills out when it's not in survival mode)
Reduces chronic pain related to tension and somatic holding
Improves decision-making and increases access to your intuition
In therapy, I see it all the time—clients who finally let themselves feel their grief, anger, or fear stop having panic attacks. Or they start sleeping again. Or their headaches ease.
That’s not magic. That’s regulation.
Final Thought: You're Not Too Much—You're Just Suppressed
If you've been labeled “too emotional,” “overreactive,” or “dramatic,” it makes total sense that feeling your feelings might feel… unsafe.
But here’s the truth: your emotions aren’t a problem.
They’re messengers. They’re guides. They’re data.
And when you learn how to listen to them, you stop being ruled by them.
This is what I help women do every day in therapy.
You don’t need to be less sensitive. You need more support understanding the language of your own inner world.
Want help learning how to feel your feelings without spiraling? I’ve got you.
Click here to schedule a consult or come DM me on Instagram and let’s talk nervous systems, burnout, and breaking free from emotional repression culture.
Your body will thank you.
