Distressed Personality Type or "Type D" individuals, suppress powerful negative emotions as a means of coping with stressful events or situations. These individuals suppress feelings of anger or sorrow even when they are in an environment that is supportive of emotional expression, such as suppressing anger when clearly justified, or refusing to cry at a funeral. This chronic suppression of emotions is believed to produce a suppression of the immune system, which can cause an increased susceptibility to illness and diseases such as cancer. The stress hormones in type D personality people are so far off balance that it may also cause things such as coronary artery disease, blood clots, high blood pressure or blood sugar, and a higher risk in acquiring tumors.
[edit] See also Psychology