What is the difference between suppressed and repressed?

In psychology, "suppressed" refers to the conscious effort to push down or restrain unwanted thoughts or emotions, while "repressed" refers to the unconscious process of blocking out distressing thoughts or memories. Suppression involves a deliberate choice to avoid dealing with a particular issue, whereas repression involves the mind automatically burying painful memories to protect the individual from emotional harm. Both mechanisms involve keeping unwanted information out of conscious awareness, but the key difference lies in the level of awareness and control over the process.