Letting Anger Flow: A Somatic Approach to Emotion & Release

We often think: “I just need to get it out!” To scream. To punch something. To vent our rage. To discharge it like it’s something toxic. And while releasing emotions can feel powerful, even necessary at times, what if the true healing doesn’t come from pushing emotion out of the body, but from allowing it to move through?

The Difference Between Letting Go and Letting It Flow

There’s a subtle but vital difference between trying to “get emotion out” and allowing it to move naturally through the body. When we attempt to release emotions, particularly intense ones like anger or rage, it often becomes an act of disconnection instead of true release. Screaming or hitting something because we feel like we “should” often leads to us being pulled out of our bodies. It becomes more about performing the release than being present with the emotion.

This action creates a kind of resistance within:
“I don’t want this.”
“I need to get rid of it.”

This resistance can actually keep us stuck, as part of us doesn’t want to let go of the emotion. Part of us is afraid of what might happen when we release it, or we believe that this is the only way to deal with it.

On the other hand, letting the emotion move through your body invites a sense of curiosity, presence, and awareness. It asks: “What is this experience trying to show me? How does this emotion want to move through me?”

Somatic Curiosity: How Does This Emotion Want to Move?

Instead of defaulting to punching a pillow, shouting into the void, or taking out your anger on someone else, try this:

1. Pause

2. Breathe

3. Tune into your body

4. Ask yourself: “How does this anger want to move through me?”

You might be surprised by what your body needs.

The anger might rise up as a tremble, a stomp in your feet, or even a sudden urge to run. Maybe your body wants to cry instead of scream, or perhaps it might shake, roar, or shout.

But here’s the key: The body knows best. These movements arise organically from within your somatic field, not because someone told you it’s the “right way to release” but because it’s what’s true for you, in that moment.

This is intuitive movement. This is embodied truth.

When Rage Becomes a Shield: Not Just Emotion, but Protection

Sometimes, rage isn’t just an emotional response; it’s a pattern. It can act as a shield, protecting us from feeling something deeper. For many, especially those with past trauma, rage becomes a gatekeeper, standing between us and the more vulnerable emotions that lie underneath.

Rage might be hiding grief, shame, fear, or powerlessness. It might be protecting us from the pain of not being seen, or from the emotional wounding we’ve carried through life.

When we allow anger to move through us, we don’t just ride the wave of rage; we listen for what’s beneath. We make room for the emotions that lie hidden beneath the surface, trusting that the body can process and release them fully, in its own time.

Letting the Emotion Move: A Practice of Presence

So, what does letting emotion move through the body look like? Here’s how you can create space for it:

1. Stay Present with Sensation
   Rather than trying to push the emotion away, stay present with the physical sensations it brings up. Allow yourself to feel the energy without rushing to change it.

2. Identify the Feelings
   Name the sensations in your body: heat, pressure, tingling, tension, buzzing, or contraction. Just observe, without judgement or analysis.

3. Breathe into the Emotion
   Without rushing to solve it or shut it down, breathe deeply into the feeling. Don’t try to push it out; simply breathe into it.

4. Move Naturally
   Allow your body to move, whether gently or more wildly, depending on what arises. Don’t force it, let it flow however it needs to.

5. Let It Peak and Settle
   Every emotional wave has a peak. Stay with the sensation and allow it to reach its height, then gradually let it soften and settle. This is where healing happens, when we let the emotion complete itself.

This is what we call nervous system intelligence. It’s about listening to the body’s wisdom and allowing it to process emotions in a natural, unforced way. This is somatic alchemy, turning the emotional energy into something healing and restorative.

The Power of Presence Over Performance

In a world that constantly tells us to either suppress or explode our emotions, choosing presence is a radical act of healing. Anger, rage, grief, and sadness are not the enemies. They are messengers, carrying important information about what has been unmet, unspoken, or unseen.

When we allow ourselves to let the emotion move through us—rather than just trying to discharge it or suppress it—we invite the opportunity to stay with ourselves, honour the body’s wisdom, and create space for deep healing.

You don’t need to force a scream. You don’t need to erupt to feel better. You don’t need to suppress it for the sake of others or to maintain “peace.” What you need is space, safety, and awareness to feel what’s truly there and let it move naturally, intuitively, and completely.

Your emotions are not too much. Your body knows the way. Let it lead.