Can not talking about our problems cause physical health difficulties?

It’s very possible.

Both childhood and more recent traumas not shared with others were correlated with health issues. Writing about these experiences improved immune system function and overall health:

Results from a series of studies are summarized in support of a general theory of inhibition and psychosomatics. According to this view, to inhibit thoughts, feelings, or behaviors is associated with physiological work. In the short term, inhibition results in increased autonomic nervous system activity. Over time, inhibition serves as a cumulative stressor that increases the probability of psychosomatic disease. Actively avoiding thoughts and feelings surrounding a trauma and/or not discussing a trauma is a particularly insidious form of inhibition. The results from recent surveys and experiments indicate: (a) childhood traumatic experiences, particularly those never discussed, are highly correlated with current health problems; (b) recent traumas that are not discussed are linked with increased health problems and ruminations about the traumas; (c) requiring individuals to confront earlier traumas in writing improves health and immune system functioning; (d) actively talking about upsetting experiences is associated with immediate reductions in selected autonomic activity. Implications of these findings for our understanding of disclosure, trauma, and disease are discussed.

Source: Disclosure of traumas and psychosomatic processes.” from Soc Sci Med. 1988;26(3):327-32.

This research is by James Pennebaker. I’ve posted about his very interesting research in the area of language and emotions before.

His book is The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us.

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