It’s happened to all of us at one time or another: an old fear resurfaces, a sadness envelops us seemingly out of nowhere, or a sudden rage makes us react in a completely disproportionate way. Some traumas can remain hidden for a long time under layers and layers of repression, but they come to light when the right stimulus triggers them, generating an intense emotional response. Abreaction, a concept from classical psychoanalysis, explains what happens to us.
What exactly is abreaction?
The term “abreaction” was popularized by Sigmund Freud in the context of psychoanalytic therapy. Freud and Josef Breuer noted that many of their patients, when reliving traumatic memories during therapy, experienced an intense emotional release that was often accompanied by crying, trembling, or physical expressions, such as throwing something, hitting a pillow, or hugging someone.
Interestingly, after this release, many patients reported a sense of relief and mental clarity. This observation led Freud to conclude that withheld or repressed emotions do not disappear, but remain latent until they find an outlet.
Therefore, abreaction is a completely natural process by which repressed emotions, usually due to trauma, an emotional wound, or an experience not properly processed, find an outlet, releasing themselves through conscious physical expression.
In this sense, it should be noted that there are two types of abreaction:
- Spontaneous abreaction. It arises casually as a result of stimuli related to the traumatic experience, such as a song, a specific situation, or words that remind us of what happened.
- Planned abreaction. This occurs in a therapeutic setting, in a planned way to help the person cope with the painful memory under the guidance and supervision of a psychologist, generally using techniques such as EMDR.
Is emotional abreaction enough to heal trauma?
Freud believed that abreaction had cathartic power, but he did not consider it necessarily therapeutic. In fact, he often used the term “abreaction” interchangeably with catharsis, a word of Greek origin meaning “purification” and whose roots are much older, dating back to Aristotle and Plato, according to a study by Yale University.
Freud believed that emotional release alone is usually not enough to heal the trauma that caused it. When abreaction occurs, there can be two reactions:
- Dissociation. A psychological mechanism is activated whereby the person disconnects from reality because the emotional pain is so great that they cannot handle it.
- Catharsis. Everything repressed is released, and well-being is gained as emotional tension dissipates. Although the memory remains, it is freed from its negative influence. In this case, the trauma or problem is externalized, and by being represented outward, it relieves the person who carried that burden internally.
In contrast, Peter A. Levine, creator of the Somatic Experiencing approach, argues that abreaction allows the nervous system to release blocked emotional energy, reducing the hyperarousal that often accompanies post-traumatic stress.
According to Levine, when an intense emotion is not expressed, it can manifest as anxiety, irritability, muscle tension, or even physical problems. From this perspective, traumas generate energy that becomes “trapped” in the body, making its release through movement, crying, deep breathing, or controlled physical expression essential for recovery.
In some ways, research supports the benefits of this form of emotional expression. A classic study conducted at the University of Texas demonstrated that simply writing about traumatic or emotionally intense experiences reduces anxiety symptoms and improves physical health. Initially, this exercise generates a negative mood and raises blood pressure, but it then has a profoundly liberating effect and reduces health problems.
While not strictly the same as abreaction, both processes share the same logic: releasing repressed feelings and emotions so that the body and mind can process the experience and relax. This emotional expression can be through words, physical movements, or even art.
Therefore, both science and my experience indicate that abreaction can indeed help us release the emotional burden linked to certain traumatic or painful experiences, lightening their weight. But in many cases, it’s necessary to go a step further and confront the trauma in order to incorporate it into our life narrative. Consequently, abreaction would be a kind of vehicle that facilitates this coping process.
From trauma to relief: How to release repressed emotions?
Obviously, not everyone experiences abreaction in the same way. Some people tend to repress their emotions more, due to upbringing, culture, or past traumas. In that case, release is often much more difficult and even intimidating.
That’s why psychologists recommend a gradual approach. It’s not about shouting at the top of your lungs, but about taking small steps that facilitate emotional release. You can start by talking about your feelings with someone you trust, writing in a therapeutic journal, or practicing physical activities that allow you to release tension. Every gesture, however small it may seem, helps repressed energy flow and reduces the accumulated emotional burden.
The key is creating a safe and conscious environment for that expression. Abreaction doesn’t work if you feel judged, ridiculed, or threatened. You need to feel protected and safe. In therapy, for example, this is achieved through professional support and techniques that guide the expression of the emotion, preventing it from becoming overwhelming and a further source of distress. In everyday life, this can translate into safe personal spaces or artistic activities that allow you to channel your emotions without risk.
Ultimately, abreaction is a reminder that emotions don’t simply disappear and that our well-being largely depends on preventing them from accumulating and learning how to release them. Whether this release is gradual or intense matters little; what’s essential is allowing ourselves to feel and letting go of what harms or hinders us, without guilt or pressure. Practicing this skill will help us reduce cumulative stress, gain mental clarity, and develop a healthier relationship with ourselves.
References:
Levine, P.A. (1997) Waking the tiger: Healing trauma. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Pennebaker, JW (1997) Opening up: The healing power of expressing emotions. New York: Guilford Press.
Jackson, S. W. (1994) Catharsis and Abreaction in the History of Psychological Healing. Psychiatric Clinics of North America; 17(3): 471-491.
Van der Hart, O. & Brown, P. (1992) Abreaction Re-evaluated. Dissociation; 5(3): 127-140.
Pennebaker, JW & Beall, SK (1986) Confronting a traumatic event: Toward an understanding of inhibition and disease. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95(3), 274–281.
Freud, S. (1966) Studies on hysteria (J. Strachey, Trans.). New York: Basic Books.
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