The dark side of venting

For many years, psychologists believed that dark emotions needed to be released physically, like hitting a soft object, like pillows or punching bags.

• However, this type of emotional venting makes people relive their anger in their bodies, strengthening the neural pathways for anger and making it easier to get angry the next time.
• The same is true of grief or anxiety. If we only relive our experience without finding meaning and a way to soother ourselves, it could extend our suffering.