| Damaging Effects of Anger :
Many individuals are afraid of their own anger. However, anger is an emotion like any other feeling. It is neither good nor bad in and of itself. The behavior resulting from the feeling of anger is what can be damaging or destructive. There are several theories about the origin of anger. One theory contends that anger stems from chemical or hormonal changes in our brains. However, this is only partially true. Researchers have found that both biochemical changes in the brain and our cognitive (thought) processes are responsible for an angry response. For a number of years, mental health professionals have debated the question of whether it is healthy to vent angry feelings. Recent research has discovered that expressing anger often results in escalating irritation and frustration rather than releasing the anger and helping the individual to feel calmer and more in control.
Venting your anger can result in the following negative effects:
- Angry individuals tend to have negative thoughts that accompany their emotions. Because of this, the original problem is seen within a negative framework, making resolving the problem more difficult.
- Venting your anger often results in you coming across as unfriendly, intimidating and even hostile. The person with whom you express your anger is likely to match your behavior and become angry in return.
- Anger has a very negative effect on our physical effect. It has been associated with stomach and intestinal problems such as ulcerative colitis.
- A key predictor for coronary heart disease is the Type A personality individual with chronic hostility.
- An anger outburst typically results in an increase in blood pressure. Individuals who chronically suppress their anger increase their risk of ongoing high blood pressure problems.
- Chronic suppressed anger is damaging because it activates the sympathetic nervous system responses (the fight or flight response), which in turn results in the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, these hormones can weaken the blood vessels in the body, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Managing Our Anger
Anger is frequently a cover emotion for either fear, hurt or stress.Some individuals are uncomfortable conveying their fear or hurt feelings and are more expressive with their anger instead. Sometimes we feel angry when we want something and we are frustrated when we can't have it or can't get it. Individuals will often respond with anger to the following types of stressors:
- Being in a hurry and being blocked from accomplishing a task
- Being overworked
- Being depressed
- Being fatigued
- Feeling abandoned or attacked
- Feeling guilt, hurt or shame
- Feeling a sense of grief or loss
- Being in physical pain without relief
- Feeling forced to do something you'd rather not do
There's the saying that there are only three ways to deal with our feelings ---either we talk them out, work them out or act them out. All too often, we act out our anger inappropriately. Managing our anger effectively begins with understanding the underlying cause of our anger. Frequently, an individual's anger level is directly correlated with his or her stress level. While we may say the cause of our anger is " that jerk who cut me off in traffic", the real reason may be having to work numerous hours of overtime and feeling exhausted. Studies are now confirming that many instances of road rage are attributed to sleep deprivation, frequently brought on by stress and exhaustion. Finding ways to manage our anger in a healthy fashion is not only beneficial to our physical health but our relationships as well. Sometimes, this means learning to set limits in the work environment, with friends or loved ones. Talking our feelings out with a trusted friend or a professional counselor can be helpful. Also, physical activities and relaxation exercises are excellent tools for working out anger feelings.
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Stress Tip:
by G. Gaynor McTigue Beat the heat. When the weather turns hot, your level of stress rises right along with it. And the more you think about how uncomfortable you are, how dragged out you feel, how devilishly torrid it is...
the more impatient, stifled and irritable you become. Which doesn't help the situation. When the temperature climbs, it's time to scale back your intensity relative to the heat so you can function effectively without boiling over or burning out. Also essential: drink plenty of cold water. Think cool thoughts. Stay out of the sun. And don't bring attention to your discomfort, either to yourself or to others. It's a heat wave. Adapt to it. Ride it out. Why make yourself crazy? Root out stress in virtually every area of your life. Get 300 stress eliminating strategies right now in the acclaimed eBook edition of "Why Make Yourself Crazy". To learn more, click on:
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| Quotes To Ponder:
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals. ---
Henry Ford
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give the world your best anyway. --- Mother Teresa
When you come to the edge of all light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen. There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly. --- Barbara Winter
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Mental Health Dictionary:
Anxiety Disorders:
Anxiety disorders range from feelings of uneasiness to immobilizing bouts of terror. Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives and some nervousness in anticipation of a real situation. However, if a person cannot shake unwarranted worries, or if the feelings are jarring to the point of avoiding everyday activities, he or she most likely has an anxiety disorder.
--- National Institute of Mental Health
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