ABSTRACT
For several decades, a focus on perceived emotional distress has dominated psychosomatic research in the study of medical conditions such as hypertension. However, such studies have not clarified the link between emotions and hypertension. Clinical observations and reported studies suggest instead that this link can be found in emotions hidden from conscious awareness. These can be traced either to trauma-related emotions that have been repressed or dissociated, particularly events that occurred during childhood (Flinn, this volume), or to a lifelong coping style characterized by minimization of perceived emotional distress. The absence of emotional support, either at the time of trauma or during childhood years, contributes greatly to the need to defend against conscious awareness of such emotions, and ultimately to the physical manifestations that can result.
