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A Handle on your Health: Anger & Health

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Tuesday, November 6, 2018

This seemed like an appropriate topic given the current political climate in this country and with the midterm elections occurring today. 

Everyday we watch in the news as people attack one another verbally and sometimes physically over ideas.  It seems as though hate is running rampant in our society these days. Our ERs are filled with people who make bad decisions during fits of anger. Anger can be destructive to our health but it also serves a purpose.  

So what is anger? The dictionary defines it as an intense emotional response to a perceived threat or provocation. If you asked a scientist they might explain it as a sudden rush of adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol and noradrenaline from the sympathetic nervous system which is a part of the “fight or flight” system that is activated in a response from the brain when there is an external threat.  Anger can be looked at as a spectrum with mild annoyance at one end and murderous rage at the other. Anger is a natural response to a painful stimuli. While anger is a basic feeling and part of our normal instinctive reactions it can get out of control and that is the problem.

Socrates had this to say about anger, “Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.” 

People have been writing on the subject of anger for thousands of years. We have recognized its destructive powers for just as long. This isn’t to say anger is bad. As Socrates noted, anger, in controlled measure can be beneficial. We use anger to make positive change in our lives. Anger can motivate us to right a wrong or work to change an injustice. The problem comes, as it has for thousands of years though, when anger boils over to uncontrolled rage.

It seems like the world is having a hard time with anger these days. We are struggling with self-control – road rage, mass shootings, child abuse, domestic abuse, terrorism, parents fighting at their children’s soccer games, citizens fighting one another at political rallies and wars can all be examples of anger out of control. The midterm elections have certainly gotten nasty, and if our leaders can’t act civil to one another, then what hope do we have for the public? It starts with individuals taking responsibility.

Why is there so much hate? Why does it feel like we are so angry these days? There have been enough books written on the subject to fill the Smithsonian. Every philosopher, commentator, psychologist, doctor, and self-help guru has written about anger. They cite all kinds of reasons for our anger. We can blame our parents for failing to teach us coping mechanisms. We can blame our schools for failing to teach us how to take personal responsibility. We can blame video games for being too violent or our music for being too full of hate. We can blame religious zealots for twisting and misrepresenting our faith. We can blame greed and envy. We can blame biology and our DNA. We can blame a lot of things for our uncontrolled anger. What we can’t do is blame other people for own actions. While everyone will feel anger from time to time it’s a choice to become aggressive.  

In 2017, there were more than 60,000 cases of child abuse resulting in 172 deaths in Hays County. Domestic abuse statistics can be difficult to find, but Hays County deals with roughly more than 500 cases a year. We may not want to recognize that we have a problem with anger here in our community but it does affect us. There is good news though; while the news media and social media make it look like violence is at an all time high, we are actually safer today than we were 20 years ago. Pat yourself on the back for this but don’t lose perspective.

We know anger can result in making choices that cause physical harm to others. But what does anger do to our body? It can cause insomnia and anxiety. Sometimes people manifest it in headaches or abdominal pain or even skin conditions like eczema. If you suffer from depression you may also have problems with anger. Too much anger and you might have a heart attack or stroke.  

When you feel angry what can you do to calm down? The first step is to recognize that your anger is growing. Next decide if escape is possible. If you can remove yourself from the situation that is making you angry this will give you time to calm down and look for perspective. Believe it or not but counting to 10 slowly can actually help. Mark Twain wrote, “When angry count four; when very angry, swear.” Sometimes it’s cathartic to let your anger out in various forms. Slow your breathing and lower your voice. It’s proven that if one person in an argument lowers their voice the other person is less likely to raise their voice. Do not use swear words towards another person during an argument. Keeping your words positive will help your mood to stay positive. When dealing with our children, remember that the expression of anger is normal and healthy but we must teach them how to use their anger.  Children have to be taught that feeling angry is OK but becoming violent or hostile is not.   

Daily maintenance to help you with your anger requires that you practice self-control techniques. Meditation and yoga have proven benefits for people with anger problems. Regular therapy sessions can help you to recognize your triggers and teach you tools to use to diffuse your anger. Sleep is crucial to your mental health and must be made a priority. Lastly, the importance of exercise cannot be overstated. Exercise releases hormones and biological chemicals, like endorphins that help elevate our mood and makes us feel good.  

Let’s be respectful of each other whether at our kids’ games or while voting this week. 

If you’re struggling with anger problems please reach out for help and until next time feel better Hays County.

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Dr. John Turner is a family medicine and emergency medicine doctor with 25 years of experience. He is also the owner of My Primary Care Clinic and My Emergency Room 24/7 here in Hays County. Dr. Turner may be reached at 512-667-6087.

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