Have you ever been extremely angry at a friend but instead of confronting them about it, decided to ignore your own feelings? Maybe you find yourself getting bitter about what happened when the thought crosses your mind. You may even have noticed a distance in your relationship and occasionally feel resentful toward them.

This is just one example of what repressing anger can do to you. Here are a few more reasons why feelings of anger and rage must never be repressed.

It Triggers Anxiety & Depression

If you have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), then repressing anger can make it a whole lot worse. Studies have shown that symptoms of anxiety are exacerbated in individuals who have GAD. Repressing your feelings of rage can make you more irritable and hostile. This further aggravates your anxiety and results in the condition getting worse.

In addition to that, repressing anger also affects individuals who face depression. Passive anger causes people to remain angry while being unable to channel it in a healthy way. Since they hold on to their rage without being able to do anything about it, it further aggravates their depression. This is why it’s important to take the necessary steps to help let go of the rage bubbling inside you so that it can naturally dissipate instead of worsening your mental health.

It Contributes To Heart Disease

Your mental health isn’t the only thing that’s affected by repressed rage. Underlying anger impacts your physical well-being as well.

By repressing your feelings of anger, you end up adding extra stress onto your heart. This can severely affect your health and be a cause of heart disease. According to one study, people who tend to suppress anger or lash out suddenly are twice as likely to suffer from contracting coronary heart disease as opposed to those who channel their anger in a healthy manner.

Address your anger before you end up suppressing your feelings. This will help prevent angry outbursts and promote cardiovascular health.

It Increases the Risk of Stroke

Similar to increasing your chances of suffering from cardiovascular disease, repressed anger also contributes to a greater risk of having a stroke. Because you keep your feelings bottled up, you’re likely to lash out aggressively when it gets too much. This significantly increases your risk of suffering a stroke.

The risk is even greater for individuals who already have a brain aneurysm, which is in danger of getting ruptured during an outburst. It’s imperative that you identify the triggers that cause you to lash out in these cases and work your way toward releasing feelings of anger healthily.

Rekha Shrivastava at Blossom Hypnosis uses subconscious mind therapy to treat anxiety and help individuals learn how to express feelings in a healthy manner.

Book a Skype consultation with her today or visit her clinic in Rochester, NY.

Not ready to book an appointment? Learn how self-hypnosis can help you recover from PTSD and depression.