You are the perfectionist. The perfectionism is the source of the chronic high standards, the chronic self-criticism, the chronic drive for the unattainable. The perfectionism is also the source of the chronic emotional suppression, the chronic somatic tension, and the chronic sense of the never-quite-good-enough that are the foundation of one of the most under-recognized, and most under-discussed, psychological phenomena in modern life. The phenomenon is the hidden grief, and the grief is the source of the chronic emotional exhaustion, the chronic physical symptoms, and the chronic disconnection from the healing that are the foundation of the most under-developed, and most under-celebrated, character traits of modern life.
The perfectionist's hidden grief is the practice of recognizing the suppressed emotions and the somatic impact. The practice is the source of the emotional regulation, the somatic release, and the meaningful life that are the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
What the Hidden Grief Is
The hidden grief is the chronic, often unconscious, experience of the suppressed emotions, the unexpressed losses, and the unacknowledged sorrows that are the source of the chronic emotional exhaustion, the chronic physical symptoms, and the chronic sense of the never-quite-good-enough. The grief is the source of the difficulty of the navigation.
Research on emotional suppression and the physical health by various researchers has shown that the emotional suppression is the source of the chronic physical symptoms, and the symptoms are the source of the chronic illness. The illness is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
Research on perfectionism and the emotional regulation by Thomas Curran and Andrew Hill has shown that the perfectionism is the source of the chronic emotional suppression, and the suppression is the source of the chronic emotional exhaustion. The exhaustion is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
How the Suppression Sabotages the Physical Health
The suppression sabotages the physical health in several ways. The first is the chronic stress response. The chronic suppression is the source of the chronic stress response, and the response is the source of the chronic cortisol elevation. The elevation is the source of the chronic physical symptoms, and the symptoms are the source of the cost. The cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The second way is the chronic muscle tension. The chronic suppression is the source of the chronic muscle tension, and the tension is the source of the chronic pain. The pain is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The third way is the chronic breath holding. The chronic suppression is the source of the chronic breath holding, and the holding is the source of the chronic shallow breathing. The breathing is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The fourth way is the chronic immune suppression. The chronic suppression is the source of the chronic immune suppression, and the suppression is the source of the chronic illness. The illness is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
What the Recognition Achieves
The recognition achieves several important things. The first is the emotional validation. The recognition is the source of the engagement with the validation, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The validation is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
The second is the somatic release. The recognition is the source of the engagement with the somatic release, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The release is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
The third is the physical healing. The recognition is the source of the engagement with the physical healing, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The healing is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
The fourth is the authentic self. The recognition is the source of the engagement with the authentic self, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The self is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
How to Address the Hidden Grief
1. Notice the physical symptoms as the signal. The notice is the source of the awareness, and the awareness is the foundation of the change. The notice is the source of the engagement, and the engagement is the foundation of the navigation.
2. Name the suppressed emotions. The naming is the source of the engagement with the suppression, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The naming is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
3. Use the somatic release techniques. The release is the source of the engagement with the body, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The release is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
4. Practice the emotional expression safely. The expression is the source of the engagement with the emotion, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The expression is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
5. Use the journaling for the unsaid. The journaling is the source of the engagement with the unsaid, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The journaling is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
6. Get the professional help for the deeper work. The professional help is the source of the engagement with the depth, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The professional help is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply healed life.
7. Celebrate the emotional expression. The celebration is the source of the reinforcement, and the reinforcement is the source of the motivation. The celebration is the source of the engagement, and the engagement is the foundation of the navigation.
When the Grief Is the Right Move
It is important to say clearly: not all physical symptoms are the source of the hidden grief. Some physical symptoms are the source of the medical condition, the chronic stress, or the chronic illness. The honest self-inquiry is whether the physical symptoms are the source of the hidden grief, or whether the physical symptoms are the source of the medical condition. The first is the source of the engagement, and the second is the source of the professional attention.
The Takeaway
The perfectionist's hidden grief is one of the most under-recognized, and most under-discussed, sources of the physical symptoms in modern life. The grief is the source of the chronic emotional exhaustion, the chronic physical symptoms, and the chronic sense of the never-quite-good-enough. The cure is not to suppress the emotions. The cure is to recognize the grief, to express the emotions safely, and to engage with the somatic release. The next time you feel the physical symptoms, pause long enough to ask: what am I not feeling? The question is the source of the engagement. The engagement is the source of the more meaningful, more embodied, more deeply healed life.
