Why does a person use repression?
Repression is an unconscious (or subconscious) defense mechanism
that blocks out psychologically intolerable or traumatic thoughts
and experiences. To a great extent, repression is used by everyone,
adaptively.
Pathologically, repression can become a problem if it causes
symptoms of anxiety and/or depression which impair day to day
functional activities (e.g. school, work, relationships, etc.)