Discover why suppressing emotions harms your health and learn effective regulation techniques. This episode explores the science of emotions and practical strategies for processing feelings in real-time.

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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

**Lena:** Hey there, welcome to today's episode! I'm Lena, and I'm here with Miles to talk about something we all struggle with at times—regulating our emotions. Miles, I was reading that emotional regulation isn't just about suppressing feelings, which is what many of us try to do, right?
**Miles:** Exactly, Lena. That's actually one of the biggest misconceptions people have. Many of us were taught that having a "stiff upper lip" or "sucking it up" is the way to handle difficult emotions. But research shows that suppressing emotions actually endangers our health and well-being, both physically and psychologically.
**Lena:** Wait, so when I tell myself to just "get over it" when I'm upset, that's not helping?
**Miles:** Not at all! Studies show that suppression doesn't make the emotion go away—it just stays inside causing more pain. And ironically, trying to talk yourself out of your emotions often leads to increased rumination, meaning you keep thinking about those emotions you're trying to avoid.
**Lena:** That's fascinating. I've definitely experienced that—the more I try not to think about something upsetting, the more it seems to stick around. So if suppression isn't the answer, what is?
**Miles:** Well, that's where we need to understand there's a third option beyond just acting out or suppressing. It's about feeling the feeling in real time. Emotions are like energy waves—they naturally arise and pass away quickly if we don't interrupt the process.
**Lena:** So let's dive into how we can actually regulate our emotions in healthy ways instead of just bottling them up.