Podcast Summary: Emotional Badass with Nikki Eisenhauer

Episode: "Am I emotionally constipated? 7 Signs you can't ignore"

Release Date: April 6, 2025
Host: Nikki Eisenhauer, M.Ed. LPC, LCDC

Overview of Episode Theme

In this episode, Nikki Eisenhauer uses the metaphor of "emotional constipation" to discuss what happens when we suppress our emotions rather than allowing them to flow naturally. Drawing parallels between physical and emotional processes, she highlights how holding back feelings—out of shame, social conditioning, or fear—can result in emotional blockages, overwhelm, and even explosive episodes. Nikki aims to help listeners recognize the signs of emotional restriction, normalize natural emotional release, and encourage healthier emotional expression, especially for highly sensitive people (HSPs) and those recovering from trauma.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Body as Guru: Understanding Emotional Flow

• Tapping into Bodily Wisdom:
  Nikki underscores the body's intelligence in guiding emotional processes, likening its constant need for release to human emotions.

  • “There’s so much emotional intelligence within this bodily system, y’all, that is right here as its own guru.” (01:38)

• The ‘Everybody Poops’ Analogy:
  She humorously references the famous children's book to emphasize that, just as everyone experiences physical constipation, emotional constipation is just as universal.

2. Societal Conditioning and Shame Around Emotion

• Suppression is Normalized:
  Nikki points out how Western culture encourages stifling emotions, focusing especially on phrases like "don't cry" and the reflexive apology for showing emotion.
  • "Imagine if we were sorry when we had to go to the bathroom and we went to the bathroom." (03:25)
• Impact on Sensitive People:
  Even highly sensitive individuals can become emotionally constipated despite their natural inclination to emote.

3. The 7 Signs of Emotional Constipation

[Intro to Signs at 04:10]

1. Apologizing for Emotion

   • If you say "I'm sorry" as soon as you start to feel or show emotion, you're holding it in and invalidating your experience.
   • “Right when you start emoting. And what you’re doing right there in that moment is you’re trying to hold it in. You’re trying to squish it down.” (04:30)

2. Emotional Leakage in Private or Odd Moments

   • Unreleased emotions often “leak” out unexpectedly—crying at odd moments, often triggered out of context.
   • “If you don’t let it out naturally and let it flow, it will come out later, sideways.” (06:30)

3. Running Away from Rising Emotion

   • Some people, when they feel emotion rising, seek privacy or isolation, but Nikki cautions there’s a fine line between healthy privacy and unhealthy repression.
   • "There's a fine line between wanting privacy and stuffing and hiding our feelings in a way that stops us up." (08:10)

4. Cultural and Familial Conditioning

   • Normalization of repression (“don’t cry” reflex) often stems from growing up in Western society or households where emotions were discouraged.

5. Avoidance or Denial

   • Dismissing questions about your feelings, saying “I’m fine” when you’re not, is a form of emotional holding.
   • “You seem upset or you seem edgy, and you go, no, I’m fine…you’re holding on to something, you’re stuffing it.” (09:25)

6. Sudden Emotional Explosions

   • Suppressed emotions can build and result in sudden, explosive displays (the “volcano” effect).
   • “If you volcanically explode, you may have to learn how to release and release and release with more ease and more frequency so it doesn’t build up and come out like a volcano blowing.” (11:40)

7. Pendulum Swings: From Constipation to Diarrhea

   • Emotional release can swing from not enough to too much, highlighting the importance of balanced and regular emotional expression.
   • "At that point, it goes from emotional constipation to emotional diarrhea." (12:50)

4. Encouragement for Emotional Flow

• Embracing Emotional Release:
  Nikki encourages listeners to celebrate and affirm emotional expression—reminding that flow in all bodily and emotional systems is vital.

  • “You are allowed to have flow in all things, in bodily functions, in emotional release, in grieving and moving through your life…” (13:20)

• Supporting Others:
  She models supportive language for when others cry—“It’s okay,” “Thank you for crying,” or simply holding space without judgment.

  • “When someone cries in my space, I often say, ‘It’s okay,’ or, ‘Thank you for crying,’ or just, ‘Let that out.’” (13:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Emotional Intelligence of the Body:
  “There’s so much emotional intelligence within this bodily system, y’all, that is right here as its own guru.” (01:38)

• On Societal Shame:
  “Imagine if we were sorry when we had to go to the bathroom and we went to the bathroom. Yet we put this on ourselves. Society puts this blockage, this stoppage. Yes. This emotional constipation on us.” (03:25)

• On Suppression:
  “Right when you start emoting… you’re trying to hold it in. You’re trying to squish it down.” (04:30)

• On Emotional Leaks:
  “If you don't let it out naturally and let it flow, it will come out later, sideways.” (06:30)

• On Emotional Explosions:
  “If you volcanically explode, you may have to learn how to release… so it doesn't build up and come out like a volcano blowing.” (11:40)

• Encouragement for Listeners:
  “You are allowed to have flow in all things, in bodily functions, in emotional release, in grieving and moving through your life...” (13:20)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 — Introduction; setting up the “emotional constipation” metaphor
• 01:38 — The body as emotional guru
• 03:25 — Societal shame and repression
• 04:10 — Introduction to the 7 signs
• 04:30 — Sign #1: Apologizing for emotion
• 06:30 — Sign #2: Emotional leakage
• 08:10 — Sign #3: Hiding from emotion
• 09:25 — Sign #5: Avoidance/denial
• 11:40 — Sign #6: Emotional volcanoes
• 12:50 — Sign #7: Pendulum swings
• 13:20 — Final encouragement for emotional flow

Tone and Closing Thoughts

Nikki Eisenhauer keeps the discussion grounded, relatable, and gently humorous, making the concept of “emotional constipation” memorable and destigmatized. Her empathy especially for HSPs and trauma survivors encourages self-compassion and healthy boundaries. She closes by inviting listeners to embrace the flow of emotional life as normal, necessary, and ultimately healing.

"I hope today's episode was so maybe off the wall that it helps you forever remember and never forget. You are allowed to have flow in all things..." (13:20)

This episode is an invitation to normalize emotional release, build self-awareness, and gently challenge the ways we are taught to bottle up what naturally needs to flow.