At some point in their lives, most people will have thought:

• “He should never have said that”• “How could she treat me this way?”• “I feel guilty when I remember what I said to him”• “I’m so angry I can’t bear it”

Usually, we don’t feel that we can discuss these hurtful emotions, such as guilt, anger or jealousy, with our friends and families, let alone go to a GP for advice on dealing with them. We’re a nation that bottles things up, dismissing anger, frustration, hatred and guilt as largely insignificant to our minds and bodies. But powerful emotions like these do affect us in a long-term way, not only mentally but also physically, and it’s important to know how to get them under control before our health really suffers.

This easy-to-follow, plain-English guide shows you why and how emotions can leave a physical scar, and talks about various life factors and influences that can lead to emotional stress. It will help you heal your emotional traumas with a toolkit of strategies, and allows you to take care of your health with a practical, hands-on approach.