The anger and stress that comes with it is bad for your health. Do you know what happens in your body when you are angry and how to prevent it and find inner peace?
Unfortunately, in modern times, anger has become part of everyday life. We allow it to overwhelm us in traffic, in the office, in the store and even at home.
Psychiatrist dr. Judith Orloff reveals that anger is usually very intense, because then the amygdala stimulates adrenaline. So, when you're angry, adrenaline spurs you to fight. Your heart beats faster, you breathe hard, your pupils dilate, you sweat. In this hyperadrenalized state, aggression increases and the risk of conflict is greater. Anger is the most difficult impulse to control as a defense against danger.
When anger becomes chronic, cortisol, the stress hormone, contributes to its slow burning. Staying in this state makes you nervous. Research has shown that anger feeds on itself. When anger settles inside you, you can suppress it, but one day you will definitely "explode".
For example, even the most devoted and loving mothers can scream at their children if they have not learned to deal with irritation and anger in the right way. The lesson that biology teaches is that the cycle of hostility must be ended early and that dwelling on the past is dangerous to your well-being.
For optimal health, you need to deal with your anger. You need to develop strategies for expressing anger. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of diseases such as migraines, irritable bowel syndrome or chronic diseases, which can be especially aggravated by tension. Also, constant anger can raise blood pressure and narrow blood vessels, putting the heart at risk.
A Johns Hopkins study suggests that young men who react to stress with anger have a higher risk of early heart attacks, even without a family history of heart disease. However, suppressing anger is not a solution either. Research reveals that those who remain silent during marital disputes are more likely to suffer from heart disease or stress-related illnesses.
How to control anger?
1. When you are upset, stop and count slowly to ten
To mitigate the adrenaline rush of anger, learn not to react impulsively. Take a few deep breaths and slowly, silently count to ten (or fifty if necessary). This will calm you down and reduce your anger, while preventing you from saying or doing something rash.
2. Loneliness
When you're dealing with anger, it's best to be alone, take a break from everything, calm down as much as you need to find peace. Listen to soothing music, dim the lights, meditate. Do some aerobic exercise or yoga to get rid of your anger.
3. Don't react immediately
Make sure you have enough time to figure out what made you angry. Take your time and resolve the conflict without rushing and find the right solutions.
4. Don't try to act on your anger when you're tired or at bedtime
If you allow a wave of anger to wash over you before bed, your adrenaline will increase, increasing the risk of insomnia, which can negatively affect your physical and mental health.
