How Unprocessed Emotions Lead to Chronic Illness

By Marla Turnbull, NBC-HWC

In the Summer of 2022, I was studying for my National Boards Exam. I realized I needed to do a “deep dive” into understanding the effects of unprocessed emotions and resiliency on the body. In December 2022, I became a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach and a Certified Resiliency Coach through Wholeness in Practice, LLC.

After eight years of coaching, I saw the negative effects of unprocessed emotions that led to the breakdown of the immune system causing chronic illness and inflammation. I coached virtually in the corporate environment throughout the pandemic. I thought after the pandemic subsided, the chronic stress and inflammation would lessen for my clients. To my surprise, it only worsened.

The chronic illnesses I saw were now turning into metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. The syndrome increases a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke. Aside from a large waist circumference, most of the disorders associated with metabolic syndrome have no symptoms.

High levels of stress-producing cortisol cause inflammation throughout the body. Hidden Inflammation weaves through our deadliest diseases, such as heart disease, autoimmune diseases, cancer, lung and liver disease, poor detoxification, and nervous system dysregulation.

Unfortunately for many, these traumatic experiences are part of their everyday life now. COVID jump-started the process through significant lifestyle changes we were forced to adapt to overnight. I continue to see the effects of COVID on my clients.

So, let’s be clear: your trauma is not to be taken lightly!

As inflammation develops in the brain, the cell danger response is activated. This means brain cells shift from a state of repair and regeneration to warrior mode. Once the cell danger response is activated, it stays activated until the cells receive a safety signal. In this state, we are primed to initiate an inflammatory response. These stressors can trigger cascades of inflammatory signals.

We tend to think of unprocessed emotions as insignificant when they can be a source of lasting trauma. In fact, unprocessed emotions cannot be defined merely by the nature of the event itself but must consider our response. Any time the stress is more than we can handle, with our available resources at the time, the effect is traumatic.

What are some signs that unresolved trauma is taking a toll on your body?

• Constant fatigue, headaches, poor sleep

• Feeling disconnected from your emotions or your body

• Feeling hopeless about the future

• Being angry, irritated, cynical and jumping to conclusions

• Avoiding work or planned events

• Having no interest in activities that used to give you joy

• Avoiding people and thinking they may be avoiding you

• Having difficulty relating to others & continuously keeping busy to avoid reminders of the trauma

• Struggling to improve after making changes to your diet and lifestyle

But the good news is that recovery is possible!

Through my skilled training and implementing the techniques of processing unresolved emotions, I help you develop simple daily methods in moving forward. One tool I recommend is the “Get Attuned” app. This app is now available on Android and is soon being released for Apple customers. Coaching, along with the app, helps our perspective shift that takes place at the heart level.

The app is the first of its kind to help promote emotional health and spiritual rest through increased self-awareness and deep connection.

Don’t suffer alone. We can begin the healing journey together. Please reach out to me for a consultation. n