My Favorite Metaphors: The Futility of Suppressing Emotions

As a therapist and bookworm, I love a good metaphor. In fact, I use them often in my work with clients to help them explore and understand psychological concepts in a way that feels relatable and meaningful. This series highlights some of my favorite metaphors that bring important ideas to life in the therapy room.

Suppressing Emotions is Like Holding a Beach Ball Underwater

Have you ever tried holding an inflated beach ball underwater? What happened?

Take a moment to remember what that felt like.

It was tough, right? You might have managed to keep it down for a few seconds, maybe even a minute. But eventually, no matter how hard you tried, the ball popped back up—sometimes even with enough force to hit you in the face. The more you pushed, the harder it fought to resurface. And holding it down took a lot of effort.

Our uncomfortable emotions are just like that beach ball.

We often try to push them down, convincing ourselves we can keep them buried. And for a while, we might succeed. But eventually, those feelings break through, sometimes in unexpected or painful ways. Meanwhile, we pour so much energy into keeping them submerged—energy that could be spent in ways that truly matter to us.

What if, instead of struggling to keep the ball under, you let it float on the surface? Imagine what you could do with that extra energy.

Image via Unsplash

Letting the Ball Float

If you let go, the ball doesn’t disappear—it’s still there, bobbing on the water. Sometimes it drifts closer, other times it floats farther away. But you’re no longer fighting it. Your hands are free, your energy is yours again, and you can focus on what’s truly important—playing, connecting, and living.

So, what’s your beach ball? How long have you been trying to keep it underwater? And most importantly—what could you do with all the energy you’ve been spending trying to keep it down?

If you’re ready to explore what it would look like to let go of the struggle and regain your energy, reach out today to learn how therapy can help.

Warmly,

Hilary, Owner and Therapist at Resonance Psychotherapy in Austin, Texas

References: 

Stoddard, J., & Afari, N. (2014). The big book of ACT metaphors: A practitioner’s guide to experiential exercises and metaphors in acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger Publications.