‘Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.’
Although this wise quote references the emotion of anger, many other emotions could be substituted just as easily. Negative feelings can be compared to an infection. If left to incubate in a warm dark spot, the infection festers and pretty soon the entire organism is at risk.
If we are feeling poisoned by our own bottled up feelings, communication and expression are the best tonics around- whether it is direct conversation, journaling, or talking with a therapist- getting the ‘poison’ out before it spreads is the best medicine we can give ourselves.