Anger that is not tackled at the right time can be damaging to one’s health. This works in the same ways as poorly managed stress. Give thought to the outcomes of the following research on anger.

A study conducted by the University of Washington and School of Nursing analyzed the patterns of anger among spouses. Research has proven that anger and depression are correlated. Thus the link between anger and the primary causes of death is well established. Study has also proven that women were more likely to develop depressive symptoms from events causing anger. Men on the other hand experienced deteriorating health with the advent of anger.

The Ohio State University came up with interesting findings suggesting that those exercising less control over their feelings of anger had lower immunity which slowed down their body’s ability to heal. Blisters were given to ninety-eight individuals. It was observed after eight days that those individuals with less control over their anger tended to show a slower healing of wounds. In addition, these individuals had increased levels of secretion of the stress hormone, cortisol. This suggests that there is a direct relation between stress caused by anger and the body’s ability to heal.

Another important study from the Harvard School of Public Health the patterns of hostile behavior in men and came to a conclusion that individuals with high incidents of hostility had a malfunctioning of the pulmonary system leading to breathing problems. This malfunctioning only increased as these individuals got older.

Research conducted on children and adolescents shows that learning the art of managing one’s anger should begin from a very young age. It also showed that youth who have poor coping strategies toward their anger are at a high risk for developing problems in their interpersonal relationships. These individuals are putting their health at grave risk. And this is not just limited to physical health. It includes mental health as well.

This is just a gist of the research that has gone into finding a link between the physical and emotional components of health. Some of the links are obvious, whereas others are astonishing. Poor anger management skills put individuals at a great risk at encountering problematic situations. Thus, learning the art of anger management, as well as stress management, go a long way in establishing optimal health.

Anger is the most common emotion among everyone. Tackling it in positive ways is healthy because anger serves as the red flag to indicate that all is not right. It can also serve as a catalyst for change and can prove to be a good motivator. Poor handling of feelings of anger can have repercussions on the health. It can also lead to a strain in relationships. Learn more about the negative effects of anger.

Dealing with angry feelings can be confounding and troublesome, especially when there were no role models in childhood for anger management. Anger is an extremely destructive and powerful emotion. Hence, you should acquaint yourself with proper ways to deal with them. Assess yourself to know where your levels of anger are heading. Use effective anger management strategies that can calm you. This would lead to better relationships and increase your happiness quotient. These techniques are simple to practice. The following are some of the popular anger management techniques.

Know your Anger

Anger management is most effective when you know the cause for your anger. Some of the most common triggers for anger are stressful events are inadequate sleep. Often, it is a single factor that can be the cause of chronic anger. Maintaining a journal where you record your angry feelings an

d thoughts is an effective technique in dealing with it. Keep a record of all the events that arouse feelings of anger during the course of the day. Subsequently, you can talk about these feelings with friends or a professional

therapist, who can help you unearth the true source of anger. This will also enable you to find effective ways to deal with it.

Express your Thoughts in a Constructive Way

Research has proven that penning down your thoughts on angry feelings and talking over them constructively can elevate your mood. It should be noted that the thoughts expressed are meaningful and can prove sufficient insight into the triggers for anger. Numerous studies have highlighted the benefits of maintaining a journal, especially when it comes to recording feelings of anger and frustration. The penning down of thoughts will enable you to ‘act’ rather being acted upon.

Make Things Happen

Always remember that your anger is trying to tell you something. The initial phase of anger management is examining its true cause and learning to listen to what lessons it is teaching you about life. The next phase is that of making things happen or putting it in more simple terms it means just action. Being aware of the reasons that arouse your anger can be extremely helpful in self-assessment. Also important are the elimination of the triggers of anger and dealing with situations that cause repeated anger. Total elimination of anger and frustration is impossible. However, reducing the stressful events that are in your control should prove sufficient.

Do not get Obsessive

Constant brooding over events that trigger anger can be very harmful. Research has proven that people who tend to brood constantly over past events are at a greater risk for developing high blood pressure. This can lead to more serious health concerns such as organ damage and related problems. Getting toward a solution is a constructive idea, but brooding over events can never be.

Do not Over-Emphasize

Talking about your anger can get tricky. Chatting with your friend is a great idea to maintain your cool. This can also help you to know your feelings, conceptualize effective problem-solving strategies, and even strengthen your relationships. However, constant discussion of events that are triggers for anger can worsen your mood and increase the secretion of stress hormones. It is not advisable to repeatedly harp on the same event. This will help you explore solutions and help you get in touch with your feelings. Most people, generally women, have a tendency to turn sessions of healthy discussion into sessions of complaint. This only aggravates the situation and leads to a downward spiral. In such scenarios, it is best to divert attention from the current topic. If you feel that you have a lot to talk about your feelings of anger and frustration, it would be good to consult a therapist, who can suggest some effective strategies on anger management.