The Science of Emotions: Why Your Feelings Are More Than “Just in Your Head”
- Laurie Nessland, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
For years, you may have been told that emotions are intangible — something “in your head” that you should be able to control with logic. But modern research paints a very different picture: your emotions are deeply physiological, intricately tied to your biology, and they shape your health and well-being in profound ways.
From Dr. Candace Pert’s discovery of “molecules of emotion” to modern neuroscience, the science now confirms what you may already sense: your emotions live in your body, and unresolved feelings can impact your health, decisions, and even your future.
Dr. Candace Pert and the Molecules of Emotion
In the 1970s, Dr. Candace Pert discovered the opiate receptor — the cellular binding site for endorphins. This was groundbreaking because it proved that your body has built-in systems for managing pain and pleasure, guided by neuropeptides (tiny protein-like molecules) that carry emotional messages.
Her later work revealed:
Your emotions are biochemical: Neuropeptides carry emotional signals not only in your brain but throughout your entire body.
Your body stores emotional information: These “molecules of emotion” link your brain, glands, immune system, and even your gut.
Healing requires integration: Because emotions are both mental and physical, true healing must address both mind and body.
This helps explain why unresolved emotions can create lasting patterns of stress and illness — and why addressing your whole system is so essential.
Dr. Joseph LeDoux: The Brain’s Fear Circuits
Neuroscientist Dr. Joseph LeDoux studied the amygdala and how your brain processes fear and threat. His research revealed that emotional reactions can happen before you’re consciously aware of them, which explains those instant “fight or flight” responses.
LeDoux identified two key processing routes:
The “Low Road”: A fast, unconscious pathway that activates survival responses before you can think.
The “High Road”: A slower, conscious pathway where your brain takes more time to evaluate what’s happening.
This shows that emotions — especially fear — are not irrational. They’re deeply adaptive survival systems. But when emotional memories remain unresolved, they can also fuel anxiety, PTSD, and chronic stress.
Dr. Antonio Damasio and the Somatic Marker Hypothesis
Dr. Antonio Damasio took this further by proving that your emotions are essential for decision-making. Without them, reason alone doesn’t work.
The Somatic Marker Hypothesis
Every experience leaves a marker: Whenever you go through something meaningful, your body records not only the facts but also how it felt — a racing heart, a stomach knot, a wave of relief.
Markers are stored in your brain: Especially in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC).
Markers guide your choices: When you face a similar situation, your body “remembers first.” That physical response resurfaces as intuition or a gut feeling that nudges you toward or away from a decision.
For example, if you once lost money in a deceptive business deal, you might feel a sudden knot in your stomach when presented with a new, too-good-to-be-true offer. That physical cue — the somatic marker — serves as an early warning system.
What makes this so powerful is that it proves reason and emotion aren’t separate. Instead, they are inseparable partners in decision-making. When people have damage to the vmPFC and cannot generate these bodily signals, they can explain options logically but often fail to make effective real-world choices.
Why This Matters for You
The Somatic Marker Hypothesis confirms what you’ve probably felt: your body carries wisdom that guides your life. But when trauma or chronic stress interferes, you may misinterpret or even ignore those signals, which can lead to repeating unhealthy patterns. Healing allows you to clear those distortions so you can trust your body’s wisdom again.
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and Dr. Stephen Porges: Trauma and the Body
Building on this foundation, modern trauma and nervous system research has deepened our understanding of emotions in the body.
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score): His research shows how unresolved trauma gets “stuck” in your nervous system, creating lasting physical and emotional symptoms.
Dr. Stephen Porges (Polyvagal Theory): His work reveals how your vagus nerve links emotions, safety, and social connection. When your body feels unsafe, it can stay in states of stress or shutdown until that safety is restored.
Together, their work shows why healing isn’t just about talking through your problems — it’s about creating safety in your body, releasing trauma, and restoring nervous system balance.
Why This Science Matters for Healing
When you understand the science of emotions, you see why healing must go deeper than “coping.”
Stress and illness: Unresolved emotions can disrupt your immune system, digestion, and hormones.
Trauma and memory: Old emotional imprints may drive your reactions today, often beneath your awareness.
Resilience and growth: Once processed, emotions can fuel your creativity, connection, and vitality.
This explains why talking it out can only go so far. While helpful for your conscious mind, emotions are stored in your body and subconscious layers — which is where true transformation needs to happen.
How the Feel Better Fast Technique™ (FBFT) Fits In
The Feel Better Fast Technique™ (FBFT) was designed with this science in mind. It works directly with your subconscious brain and your body’s emotional memory so you can:
Release unresolved emotional patterns stored in your nervous system.
Rewire subconscious responses, shifting at the root level.
Integrate mind and body for freedom that lasts — not just temporary relief.
Where traditional methods skim the surface, FBFT works in alignment with what science shows: that your feelings are biochemical, embodied, and transformable when accessed through both your mind and body.
Final Thoughts
The science of emotions — from Dr. Candace Pert’s Molecules of Emotion to today’s trauma and neuroscience research — makes one thing clear: your emotions are not just “soft” or secondary to health. They are at the very center of it.
By applying this understanding, you open the door to deeper, more lasting healing. And with methods like FBFT, you finally have tools that work in alignment with what science tells us: that true emotional freedom comes from addressing both the mind and the body, at the conscious and subconscious levels.