How Emotional Pain Can Manifest in the Body — And What You Can Do About It

Have you ever pushed down a feeling because there wasn’t time, space, or support to process it?

Grief. Anger. Disappointment. Fear.

As an energy healer, I’ve seen how these unspoken emotions don’t just disappear — they settle in the body, often quietly, until the body starts speaking for us through discomfort, tension, or even chronic illness.

This may sound spiritual — and it is — but it’s also backed by science.

What the Research Says

Modern science is beginning to confirm what energy healers have long observed: the mind and body are deeply connected.

In his groundbreaking book The Body Keeps the Score, psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains how trauma and unresolved emotional experiences are stored in the body — affecting everything from immune function to digestion, sleep, and chronic pain.

Research published in Psychosomatic Medicine has shown that emotional suppression can lead to increased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and weaken the immune system. Another study in The Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that people who avoid emotional expression are more likely to suffer from chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome.

In other words: what you don’t release emotionally, your body may carry physically.

Where Emotions Live in the Energy Body

In my work with Reiki and Theta Healing, I’ve observed that certain emotional patterns often show up in specific energy centers (chakras):

• Throat Chakra – blocked by unspoken words, suppressed truth

• Heart Chakra – holds grief, guilt, betrayal, loss

• Solar Plexus – stores feelings of powerlessness, fear, and shame

When these energy centers are blocked or imbalanced, it can manifest as physical symptoms in those areas — tightness in the chest, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, and even deeper illness over time.

A Story That Brought It All Together

Recently on my podcast, Beyond Energy Healing, I shared the story of a client with stage 4 cancer. During our sessions, Spirit revealed a deep emotional wound tied to grief — the loss of a son he had never fully expressed.

The energy in his throat and chest was incredibly dense, and that’s exactly where the cancer had developed. As we worked together, what unfolded wasn’t just “healing,” but clarity about the connection between his illness and the pain he had carried silently for years.

You can listen to that full story in Episode 9: Grief, Cancer, and Reiki.

How Reiki & Theta Healing Can Support Emotional Release

Reiki gently helps the body and mind relax, creating a safe space where unspoken emotions can rise without force or judgment. Many of my clients say they feel a release — sometimes through tears, spontaneous memories, or a wave of peace — that they didn’t know they needed.

Theta Healing goes deeper into the subconscious. It allows us to identify and release emotional patterns, beliefs, and energetic attachments tied to the situation that caused the trauma. With the help of spiritual guidance, we uncover the root of the pain and replace it with healing beliefs and vibrations — love, peace, safety, and forgiveness.

When you begin to release what’s been buried, your energy starts flowing again. That’s when the true healing — emotional, spiritual, and sometimes even physical — begins.

A Loving Reminder for You

If you’ve been carrying something heavy for a long time, know this:

• You don’t have to do it alone.

• You don’t have to wait for your body to start screaming before you listen.

• You’re not “too emotional” — you’re intuitive, sensitive, and ready to heal. 

Ready to Release What’s Been Weighing You Down?

If this message speaks to you, I’d love to support you. You can book a Reiki or Theta Healing session with me here, or email me at claudiaborgesreiki@gmail.com to share what you're going through. I read every message personally.

Your emotions are sacred. Your healing is valid. And you are more than capable of finding peace — one layer at a time.