Emotophobia – the Fear of Strong Negative Emotions

http://gentlementalannie.com/2015/06/20/emotophobia-the-fear-of-strong-negative-emotions-and-c-ptsd/

People that grew up in mentally abusive childhoods were not permitted to have emotions like other people are.  The expression of emotion, which represents being an individual, are often punished by abusive parents…

Again, the brain rewires the neural connections to avoid showing negative feelings. This is a necessary survival tactic at the time. It is not easily undone. The brain considers it necessary in order to protect the safety of the person. It takes years to develop this survival tactic and to detach from and avoid negative emotions…