Stress and Anger

In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.

Lee Iacocca

We have repeatedly been taught that ‘stress’ is a healthy emotion, and so is ‘anger’.  So, what then is the link between stress and anger?  And why do both these terms have negative connotations?

Studies suggest that there is increasing evidence of the rise in the levels of stress people experience – work, relationships and finances being the main contributors.  Other studies suggest that anger too is on the increase – road rage, trolley rage, schools, workplace and football pitches, being examples.

These two emotions are common for everyone, irrespective of gender, age, backgrounds, cultures, religions, etc.

It is common for anger to follow on from stress and for stress to result from being angry, but does this have to be the case, or can we be taught to distinguish the two emotions and be able to control them separately.  They need to be channeled for positive outcomes and results, as they can both be very destructive.

As stress and anger are or can be linked, emotionally and mentally, it is also true that the effects on the body are similar too, whether perceived or real.  The physiological responses, such as shallow breathing are common in both, e.g.

• Increase in heart rate and blood pressure - this forces blood to areas of the body that need it during activity

• Slowing down of digestion - blood is diverted to the brain and muscles

•  Increase in respiration - more oxygen is delivered to the muscles

• Increase perspiration - to cool the body

• Increase in muscle tone - to prepare for action. 


• Increase in blood clotting - to prepare for injury. 


• Increase in levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol - both adrenaline and noradrenaline will increase the heart rate, and cortisol prepares the body for physical activity

 

As human beings, we are programmed to cope with the demands that stress and anger can have on us physically and psychologically, however, the frequency and duration of these episodes can lead to more serious symptoms, e.g:

Short term effects:

Physical 


• headaches


• gastrointestinal problems

• aches and pains


• trembling

• sweating

• insomnia

• elevated blood pressure

• compromised immune system

Psychological

• panic attacks

• anxiety

• aggression

• depression

• poor concentration

• feeling helpless

• lack of confidence

• withdrawal from social activities

Long term effects:

 Physical 


• stomach ulcers (due to elevated cortisol levels) 


• an increased risk of acquiring opportunistic infections (some authorities will include cancer) 


• hypertension


• heart attack (myocardial infarction)

• stroke (cerebrovascular incident) 


Psychological

• chronic depression

• mental breakdown

As stress and anger are seen as healthy emotions, they can and need to be utilised productively to help us achieve beneficial and helpful results and outcomes, thereby preventing the negative effects on our minds and bodies. 

For more information on how you or your company can effectively manage anger, call us on 0800 999 8353, info@lcch.co.uk

Or to talk to someone in your area:

Scotland: +44 141 333 0878

Southwest England: +44 7761 773563

Midlands and Southeast England: +44 203 603 8535

Northern England: +44 7812 196 798

Southeast Asia: + 603 7960 6439

Portugal: +351 933 713 223

Feisal Umar FBSCH

Director of Studies, LCCH 

www.lcch.co.uk