Anger which is overlooked, shunned or not acknowledged is repressed anger and it can have a major effect in our personal and professional lives and as time passes, this anger becomes difficult to recognize or identify which may then lead to certain damaging consequences.
There are some signs and consequences of suppressed anger that we may notice in ourselves or others such as the following:
You pretend to be happy all the time- and though this is not a bad thing, not accepting or acknowledging the discomfort is unhealthy. Realistically, we may not feel happy all the time and difficult situations may prove to be opportunities for self growth and self development. Not always liking what other people do or say may be viewed as a chance to think differently where we may be required to move a little out of our comfort zones and learn something new.
You try to keep yourself busy all the time- so that there is no time or energy to deal with the emotional distress. This is a temporary distraction and similar to the idea of sweeping the dust under the carpet so that you cannot see it. Conflicts in relationships may be ignored by not talking about it or avoiding the discussion till the other person gets tired of trying to initiate the discussion.
You might seem uptight- You may tend to be difficult and there is a chance of you becoming defensive in response to a colleague’s harmless comment about your personal life. After all, the anger that is building up inside does require small outlets to be released or expressed.
Holding on to grudges or past issues- and the anger associated with these issues. The person may hold on to past issues because he feels what happened wasn’t fair. The sense of injustice is so strong that he is unable to realize that there are ways through which he can move on. Yes, it can seem very difficult to forgive or to forget however, do keep in mind that the more tightly you try and hold on to these hurtful memories, the greater the control the anger will have over your well being.
Anger can lead to resentment and bitterness in relationships- where the persons involved may feel unappreciated or taken for granted.
You suffer from health issues or aches and pains frequently- as the unexpressed anger is trying to get out. These minor but regular health issues could lead to long term muscle pains, problems with sleep, anxiety, and ongoing fatigue.
It is natural to feel angry from time to time and when expressed appropriately, anger can motivate us to fulfill our goals.
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