Psychologist: Suppressing Children's Emotions Is Like Damming a River

Clinical psychologist Rania Thraskia underscored the vital role of emotional expression in childhood during an appearance on the program "Calmly I Ask: Mum Edition." She explained to host Anthi Voulgari that children must feel safe to cry, get angry, and voice their experiences without suppression or invalidation from their environment.

Thraskia used a powerful analogy to illustrate her point: "If we interrupt this flow, it's like blocking the course of a river, which will eventually flood and break everything to get out." This comparison highlights the potential consequences of stifling a child's emotional release, suggesting that pent-up feelings can lead to more significant problems if not allowed healthy expression.

The psychologist stressed that emotional freedom is not merely beneficial but essential for a child's healthy development. By validating and allowing children to navigate their feelings, parents and caregivers can foster resilience and well-being, preventing the build-up of emotional distress that could manifest destructively later in life.

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If we interrupt this flow, it's like blocking the course of a river, which will eventually flood and break everything to get out.