It is such a common strategy or coping approach for many nurses to bottle up their feelings and hold on to things. This strategy makes sense in some circumstances. But in the long-run, it can be harmful.

In this podcast episode, Nathan Illman discusses the common phenomenon of bottling up, or suppressing, emotions. He provides a step-by-step process for individuals to start acknowledging and expressing their emotions. And he shows how you can support those you work with how to process emotions too.

Tune in to this episode as Nathan offers valuable insights and practical advice for nurses and healthcare professionals to improve well-being and foster open conversations about emotions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

Nathan discusses early experiences and cultural influences shaping emotional responses.

• Societal norms influencing the expression of anger, especially among women.
• Cultural variations in expressing emotions based on experiences.

The effects of bottling up emotions.

Self-reflection on the usefulness of bottling emotions.

Nathan emphasizes the importance of cultural competence and understanding diverse emotional responses.

Nathan offers strategies for individuals to explore and overcome emotional suppression.

Describing emotions as an aid in identifying and expressing their feelings.

Nathan gives a guide for professionals who are supporting individuals in the context of supervision or line management.

If you have found this helpful, you can check out Nathan’s self-compassion course for nurses online.

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

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