‘Anger' Is Just One Letter Short Of ‘Danger'

Hot emotion.

- Santosh Patnaik

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.” Thus said Aristotle, while Horace, the Roman lyric poet termed anger as a brief madness. Anger is an emotion characterised by antagonism toward someone or something you feel, has deliberately done you wrong. Anger is a powerful emotion which, if not handled appropriately, may have destructive results for you and those closest to you. Uncontrolled anger can lead to arguments, physical fights, physical abuse, assault and self-harm. On the other hand, well-managed anger can be a useful emotion that motivates you to make positive changes.

In an angry state, the adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase, the body temperature rises and the skin perspires. The constant flood of stress chemicals and associated metabolic changes that go with recurrent, unmanaged anger can eventually cause harm to many different systems of the body. Anger makes it difficult to think straight and harms your physical and mental health. 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 etc. Holding anger is a poison. Goutam Budhha aptly said “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” In the same tune, Mark Twain echoed “It is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored, than to anything on which it is poured.” In fact, anger eats you from inside.

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