Hiding emotion is commonly considered a strength. But today, science asks: can suppressing emotions cause memory loss? The relationship between emotion and memory is complex, but suppressing emotion has a definite impact on memory… and can be dangerous.
It can be very tempting to suppress or hide your emotions. Whether it’s to push through work without distraction or keep calm in the face of stress, people may see emotional suppression as necessary to get things done. However, research shows that emotional suppression can have a variety of negative consequences. One of the most concerning of these is how emotional suppression relates to our memories.
This article will examine the connection between emotions and memories based on the question, ‘can suppressing emotions cause memory loss?’ We’ll address the factors that cause memory loss due to emotional suppression such as encoding difficulties, increased cognitive load, and higher anxiety levels. We’ll also highlight a supplement product that can help improve your memory.
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Can Suppressing Emotions Cause Memory Loss? The Serious & Surprising News is an original (LimitlessMindNews) article.
What are emotions?
Before we can address the question of ‘can suppressing emotions cause memory loss,’ we need to understand what emotions are as well as the functions they serve.
In short, emotions are people’s reactions to stimuli. Whether this is anger, joy, disgust, surprise, or any other feeling, emotions encompass how we respond to events or situations. Emotions serve several vital functions. For instance, emotions compel us to take action, including actions to keep us safe. Additionally, emotions can help us make decisions, with emotional intelligence often playing a key role in how people evaluate situations.
Impacts of emotional suppression
People may want to suppress their emotions for a variety of reasons. Some people want to stop intense episodes of negative emotions like jealousy and guilt. Others are taught to ‘suck up’ emotions from high-stress careers, like doctors and police officers. Finally, some people suppress their emotions as a way to cope with conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Regardless of the reasons, emotional suppression may do long-term damage to people’s health. Research has found that emotional suppression can have a wide range of mental, physical, and physiological consequences; this includes increased mortality from cancer, higher stress, and increased pain levels; a similar study also found that emotional suppression was associated with earlier death. Additionally, emotional suppression doesn’t make those emotions go away. Instead, these feelings fester inside us, potentially causing further problems down the road. Finally, emotional suppression can have social consequences – a study of people transitioning to college found that emotionally-suppressive people had less social support and reduced social satisfaction, among other negative effects.
Regarding memories specifically, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that emotional suppression reduced the formation of negative memories. Similarly, a 2013 study showed that anxiety can affect people’s memories and memory suppression. Though more research is needed, there are strong indicators of a link between emotion and memory.
Can suppressing emotions cause memory loss?
Issues with encoding
Some research demonstrates that emotional suppression can interfere with encoding, the process by which stimuli are turned into memories. For instance, a 2012 study found that emotional suppression interfered with memory encoding in the hippocampus (the part of our brain associated with storing people’s memories).
Can suppressing emotions cause memory loss?
Mental load
One thing we know about emotional suppression is that, like other activities, it takes up people’s mental resources. This is known as cognitive load, which refers to the demands and distractions people face while learning or performing a cognitive task (such as forming memories). While spending our cognitive load on emotional suppression can stop us from dwelling on negative feelings, it can also inhibit our brain in other ways. For instance, a 2021 study found that increased cognitive load is associated with poorer memory recall.
Can suppressing emotions cause memory loss?
Anxiety
The connection between anxiety, memory, and stress is another faction in emotional suppression leading to memory loss. Studies have indicated that when people actively suppress their emotions, their sympathetic nervous system – which is associated with stress – activates. Stress can make it harder for people to both form short-term memories and convert short-term memories into long-term memories. This means that learning when stressed is especially challenging.
Can suppressing emotions cause memory loss?
How to boost your memory
At this point, it should be clear that the answer to ‘can suppressing emotions cause memory loss?’ is ‘yes.’ So where do we go from here? For many people who struggle with memory issues, whether due to emotional suppression or any other reason, physical exercise, spending time with others, and keeping our brains active can help. Supplement products may also help. One such supplement is myPEAK Brilliance.
Founded by two medical students/health advocates, myPEAK Supplements (the makers of myPEAK Brilliance) focuses on carefully-crafted formulas that take inspiration from medical and natural health traditions all over the world. The products made by myPEAK Supplements serve to improve all aspects of your health; for this reason, their different products work even better when taken in conjunction.
myPEAK Brilliance is the premier memory-enhancing product offered by myPEAK Supplements. According to myPEAK CEO and co-founder Dr. Bhargav Patel, while other nootropics “overemphasize just the brain while neglecting the body,” Brilliance sets out to be a more comprehensive supplement. With natural ingredients like theacrine, theanine, and ginkgo biloba, myPEAK Brilliance offers multiple benefits. This includes improved memory, boosted energy, and sustained focus, among other beneficial cognitive effects.
Can suppressing emotions cause memory loss?
Final answer
A significant amount of research has gone into the science of memory and emotional suppression. At the end of the day, we have enough evidence to say ‘yes’ to the question ‘can suppressing emotions cause memory loss?’
If you struggle with emotional suppression and memory, it’s not too late to make changes in your life. Accepting and understanding our emotions can help us connect better with others. Additionally, practicing mindfulness can allow people to experience their emotions as they arise, which could lead to a better understanding of self and, in turn, improved life satisfaction. Finally, some studies indicate that workplace teams which allow for more emotional expression and authenticity are more creative.
The study of emotions is a complex topic. However, research indicates that being open with and mindful of our emotions can lead to improved memory. This can help us in many ways throughout our lives.
Further references
PositivePsychology.com – Repressing Emotions: 10 Ways to Reduce Emotional Avoidance
Forbes – Why regulating, and not suppressing your emotions is the key to healthy living—and leading
World Economic Forum – Emotions and memory: here’s the link
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
