Imagine walking into a room where screaming is not only allowed, but almost “mandatory.” It sounds strange, but this is how primal therapy works, a method developed in the 1960s by psychologist Arthur Janov. This therapy is based on the idea that many of our emotional traumas are stored in the body and that, to heal, we need to “return” to those painful moments and release repressed emotions.
Janov encouraged his patients to scream, cry, or even punch pillows as a way to connect and heal past wounds. Although it may sound intense, those who have tried it describe the experience as deeply liberating. It’s as if screaming allowed them to release all the emotional weight they were carrying inside and, finally, breathe more lightly.
Although such therapy is rarely used today, its place has been taken by rage rooms, safe spaces where people can scream at the top of their lungs and let off steam by hitting punching bags or breaking things.
The truth is that in a society where stress and emotional repression are the order of the day, it’s normal to feel the need to scream from time to time. In these cases, letting out a full-throated scream can be a powerful tool for regaining psychological balance. Screaming has a profound impact on our bodies and, in some cases, can even be a cathartic experience that helps us reconnect with our most authentic emotions.
Why do we repress the need to scream?
From a young age, we’ve been taught that we shouldn’t shout, that it’s rude or even impolite. “Don’t shout.” “Lower your voice.” “Control your emotions.” These phrases, although well-intentioned and necessary for living in society, lead us to internalize the idea that intensely expressing our emotions is a negative thing.
On the other hand, we also tend to think that yelling is synonymous with a lack of self-control. At school, at work, and in society, silence is synonymous with maturity and respect. However, suppressing the urge to yell can have an emotional cost. When we accumulate anger, frustration, or sadness without venturing them, these emotions can manifest in other ways, such as anxiety, chronic stress, or even physical problems.
Screaming, on the other hand, is an instinctive and primal response. It’s a form of communication that goes beyond words, a visceral sound that emerges when emotions overwhelm us. And while it’s not a definitive solution to our problems, it can be a temporary release mechanism that helps us reset our emotional state.
The scream as an emotional release
Throughout the day, we accumulate endless tensions: the boss who asks for “just one more thing” when we should already be home, endless traffic, unanswered messages, the endless line at the supermarket…
Our body responds to these situations by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response. This system releases adrenaline and cortisol, the stress hormones that prepare us to act. However, in most cases, we can’t fight or flee, so we simply swallow our frustration. The result? Accumulated stress, tense muscles, and a frazzled mind.
On the other hand, screaming allows us to instinctively channel and release all that pent-up energy. In fact, it’s no coincidence that, when we’re on the verge of collapse, we feel the urge to scream. It’s our body crying out for an outlet.
The benefits of shouting: beyond releasing tension
Yelling isn’t just a way to release physical tension; it also has significant psychological benefits. In fact, it activates a series of neurophysiological processes that have a direct impact on mood.
When we experience intense emotions like anger or fear, the limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for emotions, is activated, generating a cascade of physical responses, such as the release of adrenaline, a hormone that prepares us for action by tensing our muscles, including those of our vocal cords. This is why, when we’re angry or scared, we raise the volume of our voice without realizing it.
Shouting has a regulating effect on the nervous system. The vagus nerve, which is involved in relaxation and calming, is activated when we shout. Shouting also releases endorphins, the famous “happiness hormones,” which make us feel calmer and more empowered.
This explains why, after yelling, many people experience a sense of relief, just as they do after crying. Heart rate slows, blood pressure drops, and the body comes out of the “fight or flight” state that characterizes acute stress.
When we release our emotions intensely, our body interprets this as a “resolve” of the situation, which lessens the stress response. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that yelling solves our problems, but it can temporarily relieve pent-up anxiety and tension.
On the other hand, yelling can be an extremely cathartic experience, that is, a way to release repressed emotions. When we yell, we externalize what we feel, which helps us process our feelings better. It’s like opening a pressure valve: the excess negative emotions are released, leaving room for calm.
And we mustn’t forget that in a world that often forces us to wear social masks and follow strict rules, yelling can be a way to reconnect with our most authentic emotions. It’s a reminder that we are emotional beings, not robots, and that it’s okay to feel and express what we’re going through. Therefore, it can even help us connect with ourselves.
Shout? YES! But with awareness.
Obviously, the idea isn’t to make yelling a daily habit or use it as the sole strategy for coping with stress and problems. Much less to include it as a way of communicating with others. In fact, if you feel the need to yell frequently or notice that your emotions are overwhelming you, it may be helpful to seek psychological support.
However, at certain times, yelling can be just what we need to reset our minds and bodies. In a world that constantly asks us to restrain ourselves, allowing ourselves to scream every now and then can be a powerful reminder that it’s okay to not be okay, and that expressing our emotions makes us human.
So, if one day you feel the need to scream to release what you’re carrying inside, find the right place and allow yourself to do it.
References:
Takarada, Y. & Nozaki, D. (2022) Shouting strengthens voluntary force during sustained maximal effort through enhancement of motor system state via motor commands. Sci Rep; 12(1):16182.
Beaurenaut, M. et. Al. (2020) The ‘Threat of Scream’ paradigm: a tool for studying sustained physiological and subjective anxiety. Sci Rep; 10(1): 12496.
Pagnutti, S. (2015) The therapeutic benefits of yelling. Bachelor of Science in Psychology: Laurentian University of Sudbury.
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