what a ride... i do say

Defend ones emotions, and one wont have to face discomfort. (Whatever the cost)

Attempting to suppress emotions is dysfunctional; it does not work. Emotions are energy: E-motion = energy in motion. It is supposed to be in motion, it was meant to flow.
Emotions have a purpose, a very good reason to be - even those emotions that feel uncomfortable.

Becoming willing to get conscious of our own defenses is a vital step to getting in touch with our own feelings. Learning to be emotionally honest with our self is an important part of life.

COMMON EMOTIONAL DEFENSES:

Avoidance: an attempt to postpone or escape an aversive event or situation and thereby avoid the anticipated (or unknown) outcome.
Minimization: a lowering of the degree, or a lessening of the impact, or value, of an act, prospect, or influence in order to make it appear less important.

They are more accurately referred to as ego defence mechanisms, and can thus be categorized as occurring when the id impulses are in conflict with each other, when the id impulses conflict with super-ego values and beliefs, and when an external threat is posed to the ego.