Anger is a powerful emotion.
If it isn’t handled
appropriately, it may have
destructive results for both
you and your loved ones.
Uncontrolled anger can lead
to arguments, physical
fights, physical abuse,
assault and self-harm. On the
other hand, well-managed
anger can be a useful
emotion that motivates you
to make positive changes.
The physical effects
Anger triggers the body’s
‘fight or flight’ response.
Other emotions that trigger
this response include fear,
excitement and anxiety. The
adrenal glands flood the
body with stress hormones,
such as adrenaline and
cortisol. The brain shunts
blood away from the gut
and towards the muscles, in
preparation for physical
exertion. Heart rate, blood
pressure and respiration
increase, the body
temperature rises and the
skin perspires. The mind is
sharpened and focused.
Health problems
The constant flood of stress
chemicals and associated
metabolic changes that
accompany recurrent
unmanaged anger can
eventually cause harm to
many different systems of
the body. Some of the short
and long-term health
problems that have been
linked to unmanaged anger
include:
Headache
Digestion problems,
such as abdominal
pain
Insomnia
Increased anxiety
Depression
High blood pressure
Skin problems, such
as eczema
Heart attack
Stroke.
Fight, Flight…or Die?
When anger kicks in, your
body readies itself to
respond to a perceived
threat. Your muscles tense…
your digestive processes
stop…and certain brain
centers start firing in ways
that alter your brain
chemistry.
These functions reflect our
genetically coded response
to danger. Unfortunately,
nowadays, these strong
chemical reactions are
inappropriately triggered by
minor annoyances—like
getting cut off in traffic or
being spoken to unkindly.
For modern humans, even
thinking about a stressful
situation can spark a full-
blown “fight-or-flight”
response.
In fight-or-flight, your body’s
resources mobilize for
immediate physical action.
Any bodily function not
directly related to fighting or
fleeing is put on hold,
including:
• Digestion •
Assimilation • Cell
production • Body
maintenance •
Circulation (except
to the skeletal
muscles involved in
the fight-or-flight
process) • Healing •
Immunological
defenses
Long-Term Consequences
from a Moment of Fury
The health consequences of
continual fight-or-flight
response can be severe.
According to Dr. Mercola, a
highly regarded and widely
published natural health
practitioner, our automatic
anger response leads to
health problems like:
Headaches
Digestive
imbalances
Insomnia
Anxiety
Depression
High blood pressure
Skin problems,
including eczema
Heart attack
Stroke
Is Your Anger Putting You
At Risk for Heart Problems?
Your heart is especially
vulnerable to the deadly
effects of anger and its
consequences. Researchers
at Washington State
University conducted a study
with participants 50 and
older.
Those with explosive
tempers were significantly
more likely to have arterial
calcium deposits—a primary
indicator of heart attack risk
—than those who didn’t.
Study author Bruce Wright,
M.D., says lashing out in
anger can make stress
hormones surge and injure
blood vessel linings. But
repressing anger is also
dangerous.
In fact, Dr. Johan Denollet of
the Tilburg University in the
Netherlands headed a study
of heart disease patients last
year—and found that
holding in your anger triples
your risk of heart attack!
Unhelpful ways to deal
with anger
Many people express their
anger in inappropriate and
harmful ways, including:
Anger explosions –
some people have
very little control
over their anger
and tend to explode
in rages. Raging
anger may lead to
physical abuse or
violence. A person
who doesn’t control
their temper can
isolate themselves
from family and
friends. Some
people who fly into
rages have low self-
esteem, and use
their anger as a
way to manipulate
others and feel
powerful.
Anger repression –
some people
consider that anger
is an inappropriate
or ‘bad’ emotion,
and choose to
suppress it.
However, bottled
anger often turns
into depression and
anxiety. Some
people vent their
bottled anger at
innocent parties,
such as children or
pets.
Expressing anger in healthy
ways
Suggestions on how to
express your anger in
healthy ways include:
If you feel out of
control, walk away
from the situation
temporarily, until
you cool down.
Recognise and
accept the emotion
as normal and part
of life.
Try to pinpoint the
exact reasons why
you feel angry.
Once you have
identified the
problem, consider
coming up with
different strategies
on how to remedy
the situation.
Do something
physical, such as
going for a run or
playing sport.
Suggestions for long-term
anger management
The way you typically
express anger may take
some time to modify.
Suggestions include:
Keep a diary of your
anger outbursts, to
try and understand
how and why you
get mad.
Consider
assertiveness
training, or learning
about techniques of
conflict resolution.
Learn relaxation
techniques, such as
meditation or yoga.
See a counsellor or
psychologist if you
still feel angry about
events that
occurred in your
past.
Take regular
exercise.
The benefits of regular
exercise in mood
management
People who are stressed are
more likely to experience
anger. Numerous worldwide
studies have documented
that regular exercise can
improve mood and reduce
stress levels. The effect may
be twofold: physical exertion
burns up stress chemicals,
and it also boosts
production of mood-
regulating neurotransmitters
in the brain, including
endorphins and
catecholamines.
Teaching children how to
express anger
Expressing anger
appropriately is a learned
behaviour. Suggestions on
helping your child to deal
with strong feelings include:
Lead by example.
Let them know that
anger is natural and
should be
expressed.
Treat your child’s
feelings with
respect.
Teach practical
problem-solving
skills.
Encourage open
and honest
communication in
the home.
Allow them to
express their anger
in appropriate
ways.
Explain the
difference between
aggression and
anger.
Punish aggression
or violence, but not
appropriately
expressed anger.
Teach your child
different ways of
calming and
soothing
themselves.
Where to get help
Your doctor
Counsellor
Things to remember
The long-term
physical effects of
uncontrolled anger
include increased
anxiety, high blood
pressure and
headache.
Anger is a positive
and useful emotion,
if it is expressed
appropriately.
Long-term
strategies for anger
management
include regular
physical exercise,
learning relaxation
techniques and
counseling.

Nice @op. And to think some people say anger isnt wrong...

NO MATTER HOW HOT UR TEMPER IS, IT CAN'T BOIL YAM

Slap me and make smile things na im I dey soo! See plenty yarn! #teamgentleness