Article originally posted for MindBodyGreen.

When we push away, suppress, or criticize ourselves for having emotions, it comes with a very high cost: our health. How many times have you heard this advice about dealing with painful emotions? “Stop being so sensitive. Suck it up and move on.”

When others tell you to bury your feelings, it makes you question yourself and the messages your body is trying to send to you. Think about how many times today you’ve attempted to push away a painful feeling by scrolling through social media, bingeing on Netflix, or using food, alcohol, or addictive substances to avoid emotions. In a world filled with distractions and with the invalidating messages we’ve received throughout our lives about emotions, it’s easy to see why so many people are afraid of feeling.

We’ve been taught to ignore, deny, and avoid our emotions—but this is more than just bad advice. Feeling leads to healing (trite but true).