Anger can be extremely destructive emotion with a detrimental impact on our physiology as well as our mental and emotional well being.
What is anger?
Anger is a strong feeling of displeasure, resentment and hostility that often arises in response to a perceived wrong doing.
Anger initiates the stress response within the body causing blood sugar levels to rise, heart rate and blood pressure to increase.
It is normal for people with diabetes to experience anger, often questioning why it is them with diabetes whilst other people are healthy.
Why should I be mindful of anger?
Anger frequently contributes to diabetes burnout, a person’s anger may encourage them to seek ‘freedom’ from the condition and neglect their self-management.
It must be noted that anger is a natural emotion that has its uses in human existence, yet if not controlled, can lead to negative effects on health and social relationships.
How can I manage anger?
Mindfulness based approaches are recognised as an effective and lasting means of aiding the management of anger.
Research has shown that by becoming aware of the triggers as well as the emotional, mental and physical impact of anger, an individual is able to recognise and respond rather than react to triggers which may have initiated an automatic reaction. [35]
Why does anger need controlling?
Anger if left un-addressed has the power to become hugely destructive, having a negative impact on mental and physical health including reduced glycaemia control.
Patterns of anger expression have been associated with maladaptive alterations in cortisol secretion (sometimes referred to as the stress hormone), immune functioning, and surgical recovery. [44]
