The Most Damaging Effects Of Anger

Anger is a natural emotion: we all get angry!  And studies have shown that it's an instinctive response to a threatening situation.
It evolved in humans because they needed something that would empower them during a hostile situation; something that would bypass their instinctive fear and hesitation, and get them to take action.

It has been of great use in various trying circumstances. People living a few thousand years ago used anger to defend their home, town, and family against attacks from enemy tribes. Anger has also sparked rebellions like the French Revolution and other independence wars.  Not to mention some surprise results in democratic elections...

Negative Expression Of Anger

But although anger can be used to power positive action, it is still a negative emotion that can have an adverse impact on your mind and body.
In fact, people who are regularly, continually angry can also be susceptible to health problems.  And this is often made worse by people's inability to express the anger, leaving it to fester away inside.

In the past, many released their anger through violence, confrontation, and aggression. People used to pick up swords, axes, spears, and hammers to defend their territory.   It was an outlet for their anger, but obviously this sort of behavior isn't acceptable anymore!
In the modern world, we tend to write an angry email or vent on social media.

The only problem is that while you now have pinged off that email, it hasn't done anything to rid your system of the adrenaline that was dumped into your bloodstream. So your body is still in fight mode, regardless of how effective that email may have been.

The Most Damaging Effects of Anger

Anger is a harsh emotion that takes its toll on your body and your mind!
People underestimate just how damaging it can be and don't take steps to address it in the way they should. In terms of its effects on your body, it's very much the same as with stress, and everybody seems to know how bad that is for you! But with proper anger management, it's possible to avoid triggers, channel anger productively, and ensure your health isn't affected by it.

Here's a look at some of the most damaging effects of anger:

1. Effects on the Mind

When anger is triggered, it bypasses your reasoning ability and makes you react in inappropriate ways. This means impulsive decisions, violent expression ... and yet a feeling of helplessness because of the loss of control.
Most people would rather stay in control, and don't want to express their anger instinctively, regardless of whether their emotion is reasonable or unreasonable. Frequent surges of anger and this loss of control leads to serious mental health problems like:

Depression – Depression can be the cause as well as the effect of anger. People with this problem are more sensitive and can react unpredictably. Their anger is often directed inward, but can also explode outward in different circumstances. But people experience depression because of anger as well. Their brain becomes relatively unstable every time they experience fury, which can lead to chemical imbalances or emotional turbulence.



Irritability – Anger can build until a relatively calm person starts to become irritable. Higher levels of irritability lead to more frequent outbursts of anger, which comes full circle so the person becomes even more irritable. This cycle needs to be broken for someone to regain control and calmness.

Anxiety – People who frequently experience anger are in a heightened state of awareness. They are wary, always looking for threats, and easily triggered, which can lead to anxiety. This can become a serious mental health concern with a big impact on a person's life, and can grow even more if they develop a propensity for panic attacks...

Low Self Esteem – As already mentioned, angry people often direct their fury inward. Their mental voice is negative and attacks their self-esteem. This has a big impact on a person's self-belief, which makes them reluctant to try new things, experiment with different treatments, or even to take the initiative.

Low Confidence – People who experience anger often appear to be confident but actually aren't. They're sensitive to criticism, reluctant to admit to mistakes, and can be easily angered.  Anger management, along with some assertiveness, can help them to develop a steadier, calmer mindset.

Guilt – Guilt is actually common in anger-prone individuals, especially if they have a tendency to express it violently. People often take this problem out on their loved ones and friends, which they regret later, and suffer the inevitable effect on personal relationships.

Depression - The negative impact on personal relationships can only worsen someone's mental state and can cause people to spiral into depression.
This is why, unfortunately, anger and depression often go hand in hand.  And if they do, both must be treated at the same time to regain good mental health.
The only way to resolve this issue and get into a better state of mind is through careful anger management, counseling, positive expression, and developing assertiveness.

2. Effects on the Body

Anger is a response to a threatening situation, so it prepares your body for fight or flight. It's an intense physical response that gives a momentary rush of energy and power, but withers away after the anger is spent.
Frequent surges like this can have a big impact on your body over the long term, especially if they tend to be uncontrolled.
Here's a look at some of the physical impacts:

During Anger – In an angry state, the body is preparing to fight. People experience heightened energy as their blood races, heartbeat speeds up, breathing escalates, and focus narrows down. Their muscles tense in preparation so they can (subconsciously...) leap into a fight or retreat. This energy needs to be expelled positively because the first instinct is always to react violently.



Fighting –Angry people are also, predictably, more likely to get involved in fights, which leads to physical injury - for them or maybe those in their way. They can become more reckless, and make decisions that put them in harm's way. That's why learning to manage anger - but without suppressing it - is essential.

After Anger – Long-term physical consequences of frequent anger can be serious ... even deadly. People can experience frequent headaches, hypertension, heart problems, skin problems, insomnia, and digestive imbalances. They're actually more likely to suffer strokes or heart attacks than someone without anger issues.

In Conclusion

Society has advanced, and we're no longer spear or sword-wielding warriors. But the instincts developed over the course of thousands of years don't just vanish. So while being a keyboard warrior and typing out angry rants can be satisfying, it isn't as effective as channeling your fury in a productive way.

If you are subject to some of the things we've talked about here, it's probably time to think about addressing it.  It won't just help you, but your relationships, too ... not to mention the friends, family and colleagues around you.