Every day events make us angry – we may be angry at a specific person, event or memories of traumatic events. Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage.
However, anger when out of control can have both biological and psychological effects.
Biological effects include release of stress hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline, leading to increase in blood pressure & heart rate. When this is repeated frequently or sustained over a prolonged period, it gives rise to heart disorders, acidity/gastric ulcers, lowered immunity to heart disorders, acidity/gastric ulcers, lowered immunity to infections and eventually multi-organ disorders.
Psychological effects of anger vary from turbulences in relationship & work impacting overall quality of life to behavioral problems like passive-aggressive personality disorder (getting back at people indirectly, without telling them why, rather than confronting them head-on) or a personality that seems perpetually cynical and hostile.
We are usually taught that it’s all right to express anxiety, depression or any other emotions but not anger. As a result, we don’t learn how to handle it or channel it constructively.
How does one control anger?
The first step is developing awareness, i.e. knowing when we are getting angry. After that handle the anger using the following strategies:
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