When is it "self-soothing" and when is it "emotional suppression"?

Writing on LessWrong, Kaj Sotala distinguishes between emotional suppression and self-soothing. Suppression is pushing a feeling away—scrolling, gaming, or reaching for a drink—while the underlying stress stays locked in your body. Self-soothing actually resolves it: sitting with the feeling, talking it through, or breathing consciously while staying present. The test is straightforward: after the activity, do you feel genuinely better without needing to repeat it? If you're trapped in a compulsive loop, that's suppression. If you feel resolved, that's soothing. One winds your nervous system down; the other just delays the problem.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton