Anger is an emotion I don’t experience very often. However, I feel angry right now. To be honest, I’m enraged! The reason for my exasperation is related to current events. For instance, I’m upset with members of my profession.
Do no harm
Doctors and nurses take an oath to do no harm. Nurses are advocates for their patients. We take our role to protect our patients seriously. At times, that includes standing up to a doctor who is not listening to what our patient is telling them.
Therefore, as one who stands my ground to protect my patients, it infuriates me to see the harm being done to people throughout the world. As an Infection Prevention Nurse, I know a lie when I hear it. And I’ve heard a lot of lies in the last eighteen months.
Having said this, I now see bullying happening to the medical staff working in patient care. Their livelihood is being threatened to force compliance with taking an experimental drug. Current research shows that thousands of people have died from this experiment. Not only have thousands died, but hundreds of thousands are injured from this drug.
However, this article is not about the injustice being done to people worldwide. I will not get into the political aspect of current events. This article is about anger.
Anger’s two sides
We like to think that an emotion is either good or bad. In reality, it’s neither. It’s what we do with an emotion that makes it good or bad.
I do practice what I preach. So, I find I need to take a step back and examine why I’m so angry.
In my book, Guilty Prayers, I have a chapter on anger. I share a true story about how anger affects one when it gets out of control. When an emotion overwhelms an individual, their life is often put on a road to destruction. When one becomes stuck in anger, their health is affected in an adverse way.
What happens when anger is out of control
Let me be very clear, uncontrolled anger will kill you if one doesn’t recognize what is happening and deal with it.
1. One long-term physical effect of uncontrolled anger is increased anxiety, high blood pressure and headache. (I have a headache at this time. Time to have a reality check.)
2. Suppressed anger is stored in the body as tension. This rage contributes to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to stroke or heart attack.
3. Studies have linked high levels of hostility to an increased risk of respiratory problems.
4. Research shows that continuous high levels of anger is directly associated with a shortened lifespan due to the impact on the body.
This is the short version of ill effects on the body. Read my book, Guilty Prayers for the details.
How to deal with anger
Recognizing that you are angry and that it isn’t resolving is the first step. You have to be honest with yourself. First, admit to yourself that you are angry and second, it’s not going away.
Strategies for anger management include regular exercise, learning relaxation techniques and in some cases counseling. Another effective tool is hypnosis.
There comes a time when it’s necessary to remove oneself from the situation that’s causing your destress. I always advised the veterans I worked with at the Veteran’s Administration to stop watching the news. Once they stopped, they reported the anger felt was dissipating.
I have to admit, I have not watched mainstream news media in over twenty years. This source of news is propaganda with little truth being reported. I do however, research current events and have found several reliable sources of information.
In this case, the source of my agitation comes from listening to colleagues who are being bullied. I’m thankful that I left allopathic medicine four years ago. It makes me feel ashamed at those who are demanding that staff put themselves in harms way. There is no clinical evidence base performance standards to support Administration’s demand to control staff in this manner. Actually, what’s being forced on all peoples breaks the Nuremberg Code. Reference my article on experimental drugs and the Nuremberg Code.
Wrapping it up
I’m mad! But, I know I’m upset and why. By admitting my anger to myself, I’m better able to move past this feeling. So, what am I doing to practice what I preach?
I find walking is a good stress reliever for me. In the last couple of weeks, I walked about 30 miles. (I told you I am upset.) However, where I live, it’s too hot to walk right now. As a result of this heat, I switched over to swimming laps in a pool.
I admit that there’s absolutely nothing I can do about the current situation. Knowing this, I turn to prayer and release what I know I have no control over. I meditate often. In practicing these techniques, I feel my frustration subsiding. Writing this article has helped a great deal in calming myself down.
So, when you feel angry and you know it’s out of control, take control of your emotions. You are not helpless and your emotions do not dictate to you.
Step back and take a long hard look at what’s going on. Then take action to control what’s going on with your feelings. If you’re not able to take control, ask for help. It’s your life.
It’s not about what life throws at you, but how you react to it.
Take control! You’ve got this!
