Dear Self Series #4: You Are Angry and You Are Hurting Your Self Big Time! | The Effects of Anger

Anger is a very powerful emotion. It can be destructive if not handled properly. It ruins your self and others that most of the time lead to arguments, physical fights, assault and even self-harm.

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HOW DOES ANGER HIT YOU?

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Physically

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. Physical Effects of Anger

Psychologically

Unexpressed and expressed anger impacts a person’s mental health as well. Studies have linked anger to loneliness, chronic anxiety, depression, eating disorders, sleep disorders, obsessive-compulsive behavior and phobias.

Anger’s harmful effects spill over into a person’s personal and professional lives, undermining a person’s capacity for emotional fulfillment and personal and professional achievement. In other words, anger can hold you back and keep you down.

Anger inhibits the development and maintenance of intimate relationships, often resulting in marital and occupational instability.

Angry people frequently blow misunderstandings and minor grievances out of proportion and are more inclined to end relationships with people, even close friends, than work to resolve problems. Other people find their demeanor and mood unpleasant to be around.

Consequently, angry people often alienate themselves from others—even their own families. Angry people have trouble being effective parents and spouses. Psychological Effects of Anger

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Health Effects

Arrhythmia
The physical and mental stress that anger produces can trigger a heart attack or any other condition related to this muscle.

Liver Damage
And also the gallbladder, because anger cause more bile to be secreted than it would be under normal conditions. This substance is expelled through the bladder, which in turn suffers unusual stress in times of anger.

Muscle Aches
Whether we’re angry with our boss, partner, children or a long commute, our body secretes the hormone adrenaline, which is also produced when we are in a fearful situation. This can lead to muscle pain or spasms, along with headaches. The shoulders, neck, and back bear the brunt of this, being the parts of the body that carry the most tension.

Diarrhea
Being angry can cause what’s known as irritable bowl syndrome, which can lead to colitis or diarrhea. Stress, fear, tension and anger can all cause intestinal imbalances.

Gastrtis
This is one of the most common consequences of anger and the symptoms are well-known: acid reflux, pain, and a burning sensation in the stomach.

Stomach acids inflame the mucus lining when you have multiple episodes of anger, so if you get angry very often it may not only provoke gastritis but can also cause stomach ulcers.

Dermatitis
Itching, rashes, and pruritus have, among other things, anger as a main trigger. The same can be attributed to bouts of tension, stress, nervousness, anxiety and fear. If you have a wound, it can become infected or even worse because an irritable person will also irritate their wound more than usual. Health Effects of Anger

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To be mad or angry of something or at someone is most of the time unavoidable. We consider already to know what to do, but because of our uncontrollable emotions we tend to do mistakes that may harm us extremely. So to keep us healthy and wealthy (we don't pay for medicines and hospital bills) at the same time we MUST see to it that we manage our anger properly.

Love your self,
Georgie

References:
Physical Effects of Anger
Psychological Effects of Anger
Health Effects of Anger