Emotional cleansing is a process of detoxifying feelings that impair self-esteem, relationships and daily activities. According to Dr. Katharina Johnson, repressed, suppressed and unexpressed emotions affect emotional, physical and spiritual health. Research published in "Child Maltreatment" shows that children who have experienced emotional abuse exhibit, as adults, preferential attention to anger rather than happiness. Emotional cleansing is ideal for people wounded by past emotional traumas who cannot enjoy the present and worry about the future.
Childhood Trauma
Childhood trauma may have enduring effects on physiological functioning in adulthood according to research published in the "Journal of Psychosomatic Research." People with unresolved childhood trauma are vulnerable in adulthood to emotional abuse, such as belittling, disrespect, insults and betrayal of trust, that can cause emotional toxins to build up. The consequences of childhood trauma can lead to symptoms in adulthood, such as sadness, fear and emotional numbness, that are associated with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Expert Insight
In her book "Toxic Parents," Dr. Susan Forward, a psychotherapist, says that "it is not enough to treat the symptoms, you must also deal with the sources of these symptoms." The sources of many people's emotional distress are unresolved issues with parents whose negative behavior dominate and harm their child. Almost all adult children of toxic parents suffer similar symptoms that include damaged self-esteem, self-destructive behavior and feelings they are worthless, unlovable and inadequate. These feelings can fester and spread emotional toxins throughout the mind and body. Emotional cleansing can help to rid the mind and body of these poisons, and lead to healing, rejuvenation, clarity and self-awareness.
Types
Paulette Tomasson, in an article entitled "Toxic Emotions" published in "Alive Magazine," suggests three types of emotional cleansing programs. The first type is to enroll in a residential program for three to 10 days; residential programs are healing centers where you are surrounded by professional staff and people undergoing emotional cleansing therapy. The second type is to consult a psychotherapist and talk about emotional issues. The third type is to do it alone which requires much self-inspection. All three types of emotional cleansing programs focus on identifying the sources of emotions and feelings, catharsis and self-love.
Advanced Integrative Therapy
According to Asha Clinton, an innovator in energy psychology, advanced integrative therapy can relieve people from trauma and the emotional toxic residue, such as disturbing feelings, negative beliefs and attitudes, destructive desires and fantasies, dissociation, and creative and spiritual blockage. Advanced integrative therapy can cleanse emotions imbedded in the unconscious through muscle testing and by moving electromagnetic energy through the body's energy centers, known as chakras. Advanced integrative therapy can also eliminate symptoms associated with emotional distress and self-limiting beliefs, and refresh the mind, body and spirit.
Warning
Emotional cleansing can bring up uncomfortable feelings from the past that can affect how people feel about themselves. Some people may recall memories and feelings of traumatic experiences that could cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heart, panic, insomnia and nightmares. Consult a psychotherapist and discuss these feelings and experiences.
References
- Dr. Katharina Johnson: Emotional Cleansing
- "Child Maltreat;" Reported History of Childhood Abuse and Facial Displays of Emotion; Gibb, B.E.; May 2009
- "Journal of Psychosomatic Research;" Childhood Trauma and Emotional Reactivity; Glaser, J.P.; Aug 2006
- "Toxic Parents;" Forward, S.; 1989
- Alive Magazine: Toxic Emotions
