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Many people are surprised to learn that emotional experiences are not only processed in the mind but also stored physically throughout the body. According to various holistic and somatic healing traditions, different emotions tend to accumulate in specific areas, often manifesting as physical tension, pain, or discomfort. For example, unexpressed anger is commonly believed to reside in the liver or jaw, grief in the chest or lungs, and fear in the kidneys or lower back. Stress and anxiety frequently tighten the shoulders and neck, while trauma can lodge itself deep within the hips. These connections between emotional states and bodily sensations are not just metaphors—they reflect the way the nervous system encodes emotional experiences somatically. Practices such as yoga, breathwork, massage, and somatic therapy aim to release these stuck energies by helping individuals tune into their bodies and move through suppressed feelings. Understanding where emotions are stored in the body can be a powerful step toward emotional regulation, self-awareness, and holistic healing.
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