How does anger effect the brain and body?

Asked by Anonymous
Answered
05/03/2021

How does anger affect the brain and body? Anger is a natural and often healthy emotion that everyone experiences. There are both physical and psychological changes that take place when something triggers an angry response. Myths surrounding anger are often not expressed until the feeling is overwhelming and the emotion is very intense. Prolonged anger and physical and behavioral changes in the body and brain are not always good to experience.

Physical changes are often traced back to the fight or flight response, which is the body’s way of responding to a possible threat. These include an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. These are in response to the body getting ready for a possible confrontation. The mind will also become more focused and thinking sharper to deal with possible conflict. When anger is very intense, often the senses will become more acute.  There is also a strong correlation between anger and symptoms of depression. Frequently when depression is “stuffed” and not handled appropriately, it will manifest itself as anger.

In the short term, these changes to the brain and body are not problematic, and anger can be a positive emotion. However, experiencing these symptoms of anger long-term can be taxing. Over time, a prolonged increase in blood pressure can cause damage to the cardiovascular system. There can also be issues related to mental health if anger is continued for long periods of time and not handled in a healthy manner. Identifying what is leading to the anger can be the first step towards healing and learning how to deal with the issue properly.

When anger builds, it can lead to an eventual outburst over a moderately benign situation. Think of this similar to a carbonated beverage being shaken repeatedly without release. Eventually, the bottle will erupt.  The same is true of humans when anger becomes extreme. Something that is normally a minor irritant will elicit a response of something much deeper. Identifying the issue sooner rather than later can help avert an outburst over the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

(MA, LPCC)