Hi Ultraviolet, interesting you should ask. I was just pondering that question myself today.

Here's my take on it. First thing, I think the capacity to compartmentalize develops early in life in response to the emotional environment. I'm not sure folks could consciously try to evoke the tendency later...although I guess anything is possible. Certainly, we all try to stuff our emotions back at one time or another but I'm guessing you mean as a fairly consistent state.

Compartmentalizing emotions is like cutting yourself off from the other half of the brain. Ideally, we're operating from both halves of our brain. However, doing so would seem to be an adaptive coping strategy.

Here's what I mean. If we have too much emotional baggage, trusting our emotions to make decision is not always the wisest move. For example, if my emotions compell me into a relationship that isn't a good match, I'll pay a price, if not immediately, certainly down the road.

Some folks sense this. I know I certainly did growing up as a young adult (up to around age 30). For the most part, my relationships felt "temporary" for that reason. I just wasn't who I knew myself to be.

To guard against costly mistakes some folks try to compartmentalize their emotions. I'm pretty sure, that's what my strategy was. In the short term it might be a good idea. However, as a long term strategy, that's backing up a lot of energy.

Problem is when our emotional energy doesn't get resolved it drives our behaviour in ways we don't realize...and yes, I paid the price. Not only that, when it gets backed up too much, it pops out in ways we don't have control over...then we're in trouble...crying at the most inappropriate times or feeling panicky when there's no obvious cause.

Shrinklady

So we can compartmentalize our thinking from our emotions....I certainly learned how to do that as a child.

Here's another question: Does anyone here compartmentalize events that have happened and ways of being?

I have found myself slipping into acting like I did years ago and this can happen when I get triggered by some reminder of something that happened to me...its like I become who I was back when the memory event happened. It can be a bit (a lot) embarrassing...especially when it happens at work and I become fearful like...say, a 10 or 12 year old would be trying to do my demanding job. I know I sometimes feel incompetent at work and that seems to be coming from a much younger me.
It is very unnerving.

One other example is that I act like a younger version of myself when I go home and spend time with my family of origin. I know I'm doing it at the time, but can't seem to shift out of it until I leave and drive home...then I relax and my adult self moves back into control.

Where do these memories/states get compartmentalized into? The R or L brain...or where? Is it possible to stop doing this? Am I just a really weird person?

Karen

Hey Karen,

I don't think you're weird, I think maybe this is really common. I know it happens to me when I'm uncomfortable around someone - like some button gets pushed inside me and I get really rigid and scared around them, even though I know I'm a grownup and they can't hurt me. I know if I could relax things would be fine but I can't un-press that button.... until, like you say, I can leave and relax.

I guess it's possible to stop. I know it happens a lot more when I'm under lots of stress and don't have my 'house' in order... when I'm managing things well it doesn't come up as much. Maybe because guilt is a big part of it for me, as soon as I feel guilty about stuff I am primed for this to happen...

Have you had any luck with 'de-activating' this kind of experience before?

Jones