Anger is Good For Your Health

Did you know that anger causes the body to react in less than 8 seconds? It is virtually on automatic pilot, standing guard mentally and physically to alert us to imminent or perceived danger. Anger gone out of control can destroy but used wisely, it can be an indispensable tool for change and growth.

Anger is good for your health. Suppressed anger gives rise to headaches, digestive problems, back and shoulder pain, breathing problems and even heart problems. Just because you aren't expressing your anger, doesn't mean you aren't feeling it. Your body becomes the shock absorber for all those unexpressed feelings. Unlike our cars, we can't take them in for service and replace the damaged parts (well, not exactly true but you get the gist).

Learning how to do ANGER well is a skill that takes time to acquire. Anger is not your permission slip for unbridled, uncensored explosions of feeling.

First, take a few minutes to think about the last time you felt angry about something-

What triggered your anger?
How were you feeling physically while you were angry? Short of breath? Muscle Tightness? Anxious? Irritable?
What did you do? Did you hold it in and wait until the feeling passed?
If you were angry at a situation and not at a person, what did you do? Yell? Scream? Kick something? Yell at someone else? Drive erratically?
If it was a person and you expressed your anger, how did the person react?
Did the person tell you how they felt?
What was the end result?

Now think about a time when you may have expressed anger in a really negative way.

Did you lose a friend, job, etc.?
What was the impact on your health?
At the time, did you think you were doing anger badly?

What you can't do when you are expressing your anger-

You can't do violence or be destructive to people, places or things
You can't shame or humiliate
You can't induce fear in another person because you are out of control
You can't blame a person or situation for ALL the wrong-doing in your life
You can speak firmly and clearly but you can't rage

If your anger feels out-of-control (heart racing, muscle tightness and a feeling of internal fury) take some time to relax before you express any of your angry sentiments. Ask yourself this: What do I hope to gain from expressing my anger? If you don't know, don't speak! You will end up spewing or doing some random and reckless venting that can't possibly lead to anything positive or productive.