Proverbs 29:11 "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control."
We have all felt anger, jaw tightening, and fist clenching rage... Our heart beats faster and we
suddenly become hyper aware of the source of our anger, but how do we release it? Do we take it out on guy next to us in traffic, our spouse, or our family? Anger is a necessary but dangerous emotion.
Anger triggers the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. Other emotions that trigger this response include fear, excitement and anxiety. The adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones,
such as adrenaline and cortisol. The brain shunts blood away from the gut and towards the muscles, in preparation for physical exertion. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase, the body temperature rises and the skin perspires. The mind is sharpened and focused. The constant flood of stress chemicals and associated metabolic changes that accompany recurrent unmanaged anger can eventually cause harm to many different systems of the body. Some of the short and long-term health problems that have been linked to unmanaged anger include:
- Headache
- Digestion problems, such as abdominal pain
- Insomnia
- Increased anxiety
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Skin problems, such as eczema
- Heart attack
- Stroke.
People who are stressed are more likely to experience anger. Numerous worldwide studies have documented that regular exercise can improve mood and reduce stress levels. The effect may be twofold: physical exertion burns up stress chemicals, and it also boosts production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters in the brain, including endorphins and catecholamines.
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Anger_how_it_affects_people)
Next time you feel the stress building and catch yourself being more irritable and angry, take a moment to clear your head and use those emotions to fuel your next workout. You may find yourself running a little faster, lifting a little more weight, and sweating a lot more; but you will not regret hurting a loved one by misdirected stress or anger… Just a thought.
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