Health & Medical Depression

Suppressing Your Anger Leads to Depression

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
We deal with anger all our life, and by "deal" I mean either suppress or express it.
But nobody teaches us how to channel it properly.
And there are so many things to be angry about in this recession - our unemployment, followed by fruitless job searches for one.
Relationships breaking because of our depression and low self-esteem, pressure to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.
In other words, trying to survive is stressful and definitely anger-inducing.
Here is a combination of symptoms of suppressed anger you should pay attention to if you want to find out if you are heading towards depression or anxiety.
  • problems with your digestion (heartburn, gastric ulcers, IBS - irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, gastritis, etc.
    );
  • clogged arteries causing heart problems;
  • high blood pressure;
  • arthritis;
  • weak immune system;
  • any addiction like alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc.
    ;
  • any other disorders like OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), eating disorders, etc.
    connected with obsessing about something;
  • trying to make other people feel bad about themselves so you can feel better;
  • feeling need to participate in public outbursts of anger or violent behaviour;
So instead of suppressing your feeling of anger to the point of becoming mentally and physically ill, you should learn how to address it correctly.
Here are few tips on how to deal with your feelings:
  • Do not shout.
    When you shout you lose control over yourself and over the situation, Learn to be assertive instead.
    There are probably some personal development courses which can help you with that.
  • Use relaxation techniques to relieve the tension in your body and mind.
    Don't allow yourself to accumulate stress.
  • Make sure you eat healthily and exercise.
  • Analyse the patterns of your anger.
    Does the situation provoking anger reminds you of some trauma from your childhood? Did something similar happen in the past? Make a list comparing what you did then and what you can do now.
    See for yourself how much more powerful you can be now by keeping it cool and explaining why you are angry with someone.
  • Talk to a trusted friend or a councilor, you might need someone who can give you fresh outlook on the situation triggering your anger.
  • Pour your feelings into a diary, it's a good way to see how your mental state changes over time and see the reasons for your anger, anxiety and depression.
  • If you are too angry to think and rationalise, - walk away.
    In such state of mind you waste your energy and gain nothing.
Remember, anger can be constructive when it challenges you to change the situation which caused it, or it can be destructive when you do not control it, it doesn't seek solution and it drains you.
It's your choice how to act on it.


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