Discovered by the famous Neuroscientist Candace B. Pert, when we experience an emotion as a result from some external event, trauma, etc. our brain releases a cascade of chemicals called peptides throughout the body. Peptides are a short chain of amino acids produced by nerve cells in the brain that lock into receptors, which are proteins on cell membranes. Each unique peptide carries its own emotional information. For example, if you’re feeling energized you create one peptide, such as endorphin and if you’re stressed you create another peptide, such as cortisol. When the peptide connects with the receptor, the receptor can then send a signal into the cell interior with specific instructions to be carried out by the cell. It can have positive or negative effects depending on the peptide. The peptides are created based on our emotions thus, have a direct impact on our physical state and all the systems in our body such as the immune system.
“My research has shown me that when emotions are expressed – which is to say that the biochemicals that are the substrate of an emotions are flowing freely – all systems are united and made whole. When emotions are suppressed, denied, not allowed to be whatever they may be, our network pathways get blocked, stopping the flow of the vital feel-good unifying chemicals that run both our biology and our behavior. This, I believe is the state of unhealed feeling I believe we want so desperately to escape from." (Pert, 273)
