Anger management is not something that is generally considered to be an important health concern in this part of the world. Anger seems to be generally accepted. And to be fair, Nigeria can turn the calmest of people into a raging force of anger.
Anger in itself is not a bad emotion, it is an integral part of your fight or flight response. It helps you to know that something is wrong. It can make you feel defensive, motivate you, and according to some psychologists, it can help you negotiate better. Basically, anger can be a plus.
When anger becomes a problem is when it is difficult for you to manage it. When you allow it to take control of you and express it in ways that are harmful to others.
How do you know when anger is a problem?
There are some interesting patterns to note that will show you when you need some anger management. Here are some of them:
When it happens too often
Anger may be useful in some instances, but when it becomes a constant occurrence, then you might have a problem. This is still true even if your anger is justified.
When it is too intense
When your anger becomes too intense, it is more likely that you say or do something that you will regret. It can also be harmful to your health, but more on that later.
When it leads to aggression
You know that type of anger that makes you come down in 3MB traffic and start punching another driver? Yes, that is way too intense and can be a problem.
Your anger and your health
Constantly giving in to anger and letting it control you is having long term effects on your health and well-being, here is how. When you get angry your body triggers your “fight or flight” response. This helps your body to cope in dangerous situations.
Your blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration go up. Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are released in large quantities. Your body temperature rises and you break out in a sweat.
All these metabolic and muscular reactions that occur as a result of your unmanaged anger has repercussions. Some of these include headaches, depression, insomnia, and in extreme cases, heart attack and stroke.
Manage your anger, your wellbeing depends on it
It is obvious that getting angry every time is not the best for your overall health. Apart from how destructive it can be both to your belongings and your relationships.
If you need help with managing your anger, there are places that you can go to. Outfits like bth therapy can help you overcome your anger issues. You can also take courses about anger management at the Institute of Counselling in Nigeria. Make your well-being a priority, keep your anger under wraps.
