The idea is more along the lines of preventing your feelings from being expressed by putting them in a bottle, figuratively speaking. Consider the expressions "button up" or "clam up" or "shut up". In those, "up" means "completely (shut)". "Button up" means buttoning your shirt or jacket completely. Shut up means becoming completely silent. Clamming up is an informal expression meaning the same. So, bottling up your emotions means not letting them out at all.
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