Why Avoiding Your Emotions Doesn’t Make Them Go Away

The Quick Fix That Backfires

Most of us have been taught—directly or indirectly—to push down uncomfortable feelings. Maybe you distract yourself with work, keep busy, or tell yourself to “just get over it.” In the short term, avoiding emotions can feel like relief.

But here’s the truth: avoiding emotions doesn’t erase them. It often makes them grow louder, showing up in ways you don’t expect like irritability, tension in your body, or feeling disconnected from yourself and others.

What Happens When We Avoid Feelings

When emotions are pushed aside, they don’t disappear. Instead, they often resurface as:

• Physical symptoms (headaches, tight chest, fatigue)

• Heightened stress and anxiety

• Outbursts or shutdowns when emotions build up too much

• Difficulty connecting in relationships

Avoidance may protect you in the moment, but over time, it creates more pain.

Why Facing Emotions Matters

Emotions aren’t “bad” or “weak”—they’re signals. Sadness might be pointing to a loss. Anger may be telling you a boundary has been crossed. Anxiety might be alerting you to uncertainty. When you slow down and listen, emotions can guide you toward what you need.

Learning to notice and process your feelings doesn’t mean being overwhelmed by them. With the right tools, emotions become something you can work with instead of something you have to run from.

How Therapy Helps

In therapy, you’ll find a safe space to:

• Understand what your emotions are trying to tell you

• Practice ways of responding without judgment or avoidance

• Build confidence in handling even the tough feelings

Instead of feeling like your emotions are running the show, you can feel grounded and in control.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If you’ve been pushing down your emotions and are noticing they keep resurfacing, you don’t have to keep struggling alone.

At Root and Bloom Therapy Services, we help clients in Brantford and across Ontario learn how to work with their emotions in healthier ways.

👉Book a session today and start finding relief that lasts.