I GOT YOU ANGER, YOU WILL NO LONGER CONTROL ME!!
Anger is a natural emotional response to perceived threats, injustices, or frustrations. It can range from mild irritation to intense rage. This emotion often serves as a way for individuals to express dissatisfaction or protect themselves from harm.
Anger can manifest in various ways, including physical expressions (like clenching fists or raising voice), behavioral responses (such as yelling or withdrawing), and psychological effects (like feelings of frustration or resentment).
While anger is a normal and sometimes healthy emotion, it can become problematic when it leads to aggressive behaviors or negatively impacts relationships and well-being. Understanding the triggers and underlying causes of anger is important for managing it effectively.
Anger can be triggered by a variety of factors, and its origins can differ from person to person. Some common causes include:
Frustration: When people are blocked from achieving their goals or desires, they may respond with anger.
Perceived injustice: Feeling wronged or unfairly treated can lead to feelings of anger.
Threats: Whether physical, emotional, or psychological, perceived threats can provoke a defensive or aggressive response.
Stress: High levels of stress can build up and manifest as anger, making individuals more sensitive to aggravations.
Learned behavior: People may learn to express anger from their surroundings, including family dynamics and social interactions.
Emotional triggers: Certain situations or words may remind individuals of past experiences, leading to anger as a reaction.
Anger can have a significant impact on the body, both in the short term and over the long term. Here are some effects of anger on physical health:
**Increased Heart Rate**: Anger triggers the "fight or flight" response, leading to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which can strain the cardiovascular system.
2. **Muscle Tension**: When angry, the body may experience muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and jaw, which can lead to discomfort and pain.
3. **Stress Hormones**: Anger can lead to the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which can affect various bodily functions and contribute to health issues if persistently elevated.
4. **Immune Response**: Chronic anger and stress can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections and diseases.
5. **Digestive Issues**: Anger can impact digestion, potentially leading to problems like heartburn, stomach aches, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
6. **Sleep Disturbances**: High levels of anger and stress can interfere with sleep, leading to insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns, which further affects overall health.
7. **Long-term Health Risks**: Chronic anger has been associated with increased risks of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and other long-term health problems.
The Bible addresses anger in various ways, offering guidance on how to manage it and its implications. Here are some key verses and themes related to anger:
Be Slow to Anger: James 1:19-20 advises believers to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, stating that "human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Proverbs 16:32 (NKJV) [32] He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Conquering a city is nothing compared to controlling your emotions.
Control and Reflection: Proverbs 14:29 emphasizes that a patient person has great understanding, while one who is quick-tempered displays folly. This suggests the importance of self-control and thoughtful responses.
Consequences of Anger: Ephesians 4:26-27 acknowledges that anger itself is not sinful, saying, "In your anger do not sin," but highlights the danger of letting it persist, which can give the devil a foothold.
Forgiveness: Colossians 3:8 instructs believers to rid themselves of anger, rage, malice, and slander, promoting a spirit of forgiveness and compassion instead.
Righteous Anger: The Bible also presents examples of righteous anger, such as in Mark 3:5, where Jesus expresses anger at the hardness of people's hearts. This indicates that anger can be justified when it arises from injustice or wrongdoing.
Mark 3:1-6 (NLTse) [1] Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. [2] Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
[3] Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone." [4] Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they wouldn't answer him.
[5] He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! [6] At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.
Matthew 21:12-13 (NLTse) [12] Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. [13] He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!"
Overall, the Bible encourages believers to manage their anger wisely, promoting patience, understanding, and forgiveness to foster peace and harmony.
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE EMOTION OF ANGER
Our emotion of anger is our internal warning system that something is wrong with the way we perceive and evaluate things. Don’t ignore it! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand your triggers and put a plan in place to help you manage your emotions.
For most, the main reason for anger, is your thought life. If you perceive the following it will lead to anger.
They are trying to get over on me
They are trying to belittle me
They are not hearing me
My point of view is right and theirs is wrong
I can’t stand ……..
I don’t believe you did……
I will never…….
Thoughts play a significant role in fueling anger. The way we interpret and respond to events can either escalate or diffuse anger. Here are some common thought patterns that can fuel anger:
Catastrophizing: This involves believing that negative situations are far worse than they actually are. For example, thinking that a minor mistake will lead to disaster can intensify feelings of anger.
All-or-Nothing thinking: This type of thinking categorizes situations in black-and-white terms. For example, if someone feels wronged, they may think that the other person is entirely bad or that they have completely failed in a situation which can feed anger.
Discounting the positive: When individuals focus solely on negative aspects and ignore any positive outcomes or behaviors, it can exacerbate feelings of anger or resentment.
Personalization: This occurs when someone takes things personally, believing that others' actions are a direct attack on them. This can lead to heightened anger in response to perceived slights.
Blaming: Placing blame on others for one's own feelings or experiences can stoke anger. Thoughts like "It's their fault I'm upset" can prevent individuals from recognizing their own role in a situation.
Expectations: Having unrealistic expectations about others' behavior can lead to disappointment and anger when they're not met. When people feel they are entitled to certain treatments or outcomes, they may react with anger when those expectations aren't fulfilled.
Understanding the root causes of anger can help individuals manage it more effectively, promoting healthier coping mechanisms and communication.
5 STEPS TO HELP WITH ANGER
STOP.
When your inner gauge goes red, and the rise has reached the explosion level, just stop, take a break and delay your response. Get off auto pilot. Remember this scripture.
Proverbs 14:17 (NKJV) “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,…...”
To Stop doesn’t mean going to your room and rehearse all the things that you need to say, this will only exasperate the problem. Force yourself to use calming words and thoughts. Here is one of the hardest but must affective phrase, “I could be wrong.”
ASK.
Why am I angry, hurt, frustrated or fearful?
What do I want to accomplish by spewing continued jabs?
LISTEN.
Make a commitment to hear the other viewpoint without interjecting or passing it through your “does it make sense” meter. Remember this scripture:
James 1:19 (NLTse) “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
Remember, the angrier you get the more you want to speak and then listening goes out the window. You will begin to make sure that you finish the other person’s sentences!
A famous author once said, “I am the world’s foremost expert on how I want to finish my sentences.”
RETHINK.
Adjust your self-talk. A series of thoughts can lead to anger or peace. An expert on road rage stated that if you could hear a person’s thoughts, it would be, “you inconsiderate fool, you’re an idiot!” What if you practiced saying, “there goes someone that needs Jesus.”
Remember this scripture:
Philippians 4:8 (NLTse) [8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Follow these instructions daily. Your thoughts will dictate your actions.
GO. Learning to control anger does not mean that you do nothing. You must evaluate it and practice a new behavior to renew your mind.
Remember this scripture.
Ephesians 4:26 (NLTse) [26] And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Catastrophizing can be associated with a number of mental health conditions, including: Anxiety disorders, Depression, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Catastrophizing can also make pain symptoms worse. For example, people with chronic pain who catastrophize may experience more severe pain.
Some strategies to help stop catastrophizing include:
Problem-solving: Break down the situation into more manageable parts.
Check the facts: Find evidence that supports your thoughts.
Establish a goal: Brainstorm possible solutions to achieve your goal.
Develop a pros and cons list: To help put your thought into action.
Practice self-compassion: Give yourself grace because breaking negative thought patterns can be challenging.