Chibuzor Ugochukwu, a Psychologist with the National Hospital, Abuja, said anger suppression could lead to depression, fatigue and high blood pressure, among others.
Ugochukwu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.
Ugochukwu, who said there were many adverse health conditions scientifically linked to suppression of anger, added that Nigerians must, however, watch the way they ventilate anger.
According to her, chronic anger can predispose one to heart diseases, depression, high blood pressure and insomnia, among others.
She defined anger as an emotional response to stress and pressure, which could be negative or positive.
She explained that repressed anger was when an individual was angry and does not show it or even talk about it, but subtly delivers the message.
The psychologist added: “While it’s true that suppressing and ignoring anger is unhealthy, expressing it with violence is no better.
“Anger is not what you have to let out in an aggressive way.
“Outburst further reinforces your anger problem.’’
Ogochukwu said one could always express anger without being verbally or physically abusive.
Ogochukwu noted that anger was normal and would always come out regardless of how hard it was suppressed, adding that it could be better expressed in a constructive way.
She said: “Instead of keeping quiet, the individual should speak out in a calm way.”
She said with suppressed anger, the affected person could be overwhelmed by a minor incident, resulting in a point of explosion.
She said: “When you are pushed to react, tell yourself to calm down for five to 10 minutes and you will be truly calmed.
“In instances that you feel like using your hands, take a walk because certain hormones are activated when you take a walk and you will sweat out the urge to hit or beat.
“Being able to manage your anger is the key to living every day successfully.”
Ogochukwu explained that anger management was the ability to manage one’s response to stress and pressure in a positive way not damaging to the body and others.
She said: “Anger management is also being able to express your anger in a positive and cognitive way and considering the feeling of others.
“Anger can spoil relationships because people are afraid of coming too close to the person, so they don’t become victims of their tantrums or transferred anger.”
According to the psychologist, the ability to manage anger depends on individuals, which is why some babies cry more than others.
Ogochukwu said: “It is a genetic thing that some people get angrier than others and need to take conscious efforts to manage it.”
She added that people who could not manage their anger were control freaks as they could tolerate someone’s anger but take it out on the next person.
On symptoms that could result from suppressed anger such as depression, chronic pain, fatigue, among others, she advised effective communication.
She enjoined individuals with such condition to always learn to acknowledge their previously unconscious resentments and deal with them accordingly.
NAN.
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