"When I repress my emotion my stomach keeps score"

The quote by Enoch Powell, "When I repress my emotion my stomach keeps score," speaks to the extensive connection between our emotional and physical health. It suggests that our bodies, particularly our gastrointestinal systems, silently catalog and manifest the psychological stress we experience but stop working to express or process. The stomach, often called the "2nd brain," is deeply intertwined with our emotions due to the gut-brain axis. This bi-directional interaction system between the gut and the brain is sensitive to psychological and mental states.

Quelching feelings can cause different psychosomatic signs, and the stomach is frequently the very first area to be impacted. When feelings are reduced, the body does not get a possibility to process them naturally, which can lead to tension hormones being launched in the body. This chronic tension affects our physical systems, particularly the digestion system, resulting in signs like stomach aches, indigestion, queasiness, and even more severe gastrointestinal disorders.

Powell's observation highlights the importance of psychological awareness and expression for keeping physical health. It's a reminder that overlooking or burying our sensations does not make them vanish; instead, they find other methods to manifest, frequently through physical grievances. This connection highlights the requirement for holistic health practices that think about both body and mind.

In essence, the quote supporters for emotional literacy and openness. It recommends that permitting ourselves to feel and express our emotions can result in much better somatic health. The idea encourages practices like conscious awareness, therapy, and stress management to cultivate emotional wellness, which in turn supports physical health. Powell's aphorism serves as a reminder that a person's internal emotional life can have significant external ramifications on physical health, highlighting the importance of resolving emotional health proactively.