Why anger is bad for your health?

Prolonged anger at a high frequency and intensity has been shown to, in general, lower your life expectancy.    Anger can serve its purpose, but it can do more harm than good if it’s not managed and controlled.  For example, prolonged anger has been known to raise your blood pressure.  It can also contribute to the development of ulcers that, if left unmanaged, can cause there to be blood in your stool.  Typically too much anger will affect your ability to get proper sleep because the distress on your body can make it more challenging for your body to rest fully. The restoration from sleep is essential for your physical body and mental health.  Something to consider is that this does not necessarily occur from “a bad day.” 

Anger is a perfectly normal feeling to experience and should not be avoided at all costs or dismissed.  However, it is important to be mindful and aware of how your body is handling prolonged anger.  Make notice of things like your sleep, your appetite, your body temperature, and your pulse.  Any dysregulation in any of these areas can have a negative impact on your body and very well could be affiliated with prolonged bouts of anger.  There is also emotional health that will be compromised from prolonged anger.  For example, your concentration is typically impaired and will make it harder for you to think clearly and logically.  This can also lead to behaviors based upon anger, which can have negative consequences for your emotional wellbeing.  Unaddressed anger can lead to other emotional turmoil, such as anxiety and depression.  Dependent on what triggers the feelings of depression, it could also increase worrying and feeling down/sad. 

Oftentimes our feelings of anger get mixed in with the other feelings, and it makes it more challenging to comprehend and understand where all these different emotions are coming from.  This is why it is important to avoid judgment or self-criticism when you have feelings of anger; the more you suppress your anger, the more likely it will come back up more intensely.  Instead, explore and be curious as to why that anger is there.  Once you have better insight into your anger, it will be easier to manage and thus less likely to have negative consequences to your body and mind.