Lisa Edmondson, Nurse, Women and Child Health and Hormone Lead, Master Holistic Health Coach
Every day, we experience a wide range of emotions—joy, sadness, anger, fear, gratitude, pride, and countless others. While emotions may seem like fleeting reactions, they hold profound power over our health and wellness. From a holistic perspective, emotions are not just “in our head.” They influence our entire being—mind, body, and spirit.
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines emotions as subjective mental reactions that involve both behavioral and physical responses. In other words, emotions are not simply feelings; they affect the way we think, the choices we make, and even how our bodies function.
So why aren’t we talking more about this in the world of health and wellness? And why do so many of us suppress our emotions instead of learning to understand them?
The Link Between Emotions and the Body
Holistic health acknowledges that emotions directly impact our organs and systems. Ancient traditions and modern research alike reveal that unresolved emotions often manifest physically:
- Anger is often associated with the liver. Chronic resentment or suppressed rage can strain liver function, affecting detoxification and energy.
- Fear has long been linked with kidney health. Persistent fear or anxiety can deplete vitality and disturb balance.
- Grief and sadness are tied to the lungs, often showing up as shallow breathing or chest tightness.
- Worry and overthinking affect the digestive system, leading to gut issues such as indigestion or irritable bowel symptoms.
These connections highlight that emotions are not just psychological—they are physiological. By ignoring or repressing emotions, we may inadvertently create stress on our bodies, leading to imbalance and, over time, chronic illness.
Basic vs. Complex Emotions
Psychologists distinguish between basic emotions—joy, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise, and anger—and complex emotions such as grief, jealousy, love, or regret. Basic emotions are universal and hard-wired into human survival. Complex emotions, on the other hand, are shaped by experiences, culture, and relationships.
From a holistic viewpoint, both categories influence health. Basic emotions may trigger immediate physical reactions—such as fear sparking a fight-or-flight response—while complex emotions can linger in subtle ways, gradually wearing down the body if left unresolved.
How Emotions Work in the Body
Emotions originate in the brain’s limbic system, but they travel through the body via the nervous system, hormones, and even the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to major organs. For example:
- Anger can raise blood pressure and muscle tension.
- Fear can flood the body with cortisol, weakening immunity.
- Joy can release endorphins that strengthen the heart and improve resilience.
These physiological shifts explain why emotions cannot be dismissed as “just feelings.” They are signals guiding us toward balance or warning us of misalignment.
The Mental and Physical Cost of Unprocessed Emotions
No emotion is inherently “bad.” Negative emotions are messages—indicators that something in our life requires attention. However, when emotions are ignored, repressed, or chronic, they can become toxic.
- Long-term sadness or grief may lead to depression.
- Chronic anger or resentment can fuel inflammation.
- Ongoing fear or anxiety can deplete energy and weaken immunity.
Research even shows that unresolved emotional stress can increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Conversely, cultivating positive emotions—such as gratitude, love, and hope—has been associated with lower blood pressure, improved recovery rates, and longer lifespan.
Learning to Work With Emotions
True health requires emotional awareness. Instead of suppressing emotions, we can learn to observe and process them in healthy ways:
- Acknowledge and name the emotion. Awareness is the first step to transformation.
- Reframe your perspective. Shift from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What can I learn from this experience?”
- Allow space to feel. Set aside time to express anger, grief, or sadness safely without letting it consume your life.
- Practice grounding techniques. Breathing exercises, meditation, or time in nature help regulate emotional responses.
- Move your body. Physical activity supports emotional release and restores balance.
These tools don’t eliminate emotions—they help us work with them consciously rather than being controlled by them.
Emotional Intelligence: The Key to Whole Health
Developing emotional intelligence—the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and the emotions of others—is central to holistic wellbeing. Emotional intelligence empowers resilience, improves relationships, and reduces stress. It transforms emotions from obstacles into guides.
Why Holistic Health Focuses on Emotions
At Global Health, we believe that true wellness requires addressing the root causes of imbalance. This means not only caring for the body physically but also working with emotions, beliefs, and behaviors that shape long-term health. Suppressing emotions may bring temporary relief, but real healing comes from integration.
Your emotions are not the enemy—they are messengers. By listening to them, understanding their impact, and learning how to navigate them, you can unlock deeper levels of health and vitality.
Our Practitioners’ Holistic Approaches to Emotional Wellbeing
At Global Health, our team brings unique expertise in helping clients process and integrate emotions for better health outcomes:
- John Coombs explores the relationship between emotions and quantum healing, looking at how emotional states resonate within quantum fields of biology, psychology, and energy. His work demonstrates how unresolved emotions can ripple through the body and how conscious awareness can transform them into healing energy.
- Hester works with Psych-K, a powerful method for releasing subconscious emotional blocks. This approach helps clients shift limiting beliefs and transform emotional patterns that may be holding back their health and life potential.
- Lisa Edmondson specializes in Emotional Health Coaching and Behaviour Change, guiding clients to recognize emotional triggers, build resilience, and create sustainable habits. Her coaching empowers individuals to move beyond symptom-management toward long-term wellbeing through emotional awareness and lifestyle change.
- Fiona Rutland offers Reiki and Reflexology, therapies that support deep emotional release, relaxation, and energetic balance. Reiki helps to restore harmony within the body’s energy field, while reflexology works through pressure points in the feet to stimulate healing and release stored emotional tension.
- Anah Wara brings the traditional Māori practice of Mirimiri, a healing approach that addresses both the physical body and the emotional and spiritual dimensions of health. Mirimiri supports emotional release, restores balance, and reconnects individuals with ancestral wisdom and inner harmony.
Together, these approaches reflect our holistic philosophy: emotions are not separate from health—they are at the very heart of it.
👉 If you are ready to explore the connection between your emotions and your health, our holistic practitioners can help you uncover the root causes and guide you toward lasting wellbeing.