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Summertime is hothead season. But our emotions expert says there may be other reasons why you are angry, and shares healthy tips to...
KEEP YOUR COOL
By MAAN D'ASIS PAMARAN
A DISTRAUGHT Bruce Banner would warn, “Don’t make me angry!” and then he turns around and morphs into the Hulk. There are days when we, too, feel like bashing something-or someone. It could be the clown on the motorbike who cuts in front of you at a traffic jam, the leering maniac who jostles you at the MRT, or even your Significant Other who forgot your anniversary. It would be so easy to just blow your top and hurl expletives and sharp objects at the object of your irritation, but Dr. Maria Madeline Mallilin, a psychiatrist at the Asian Medical Hospital in Muntinlupa, says it would be much healthier for you to keep your cool.
Seeing Red
“Anger is the outward expression of your emotions, or how you feel about certain things,” Dr. Mallilin explains. She adds that getting angry is not necessarily a bad thing. “It is not a negative emotion all the time. There is such a thing as holy anger, where you get angry at something that is being done wrong, such as an injustice. Like if you see a child being abused on television, then you will get angry. You can also choose to express your anger if you have to prove a point. As long as you can express your anger without insulting someone, then it is ok.”
According to Mallilin, there are two kinds of anger. “First is the passive anger, wherein the person who is angry can simply choose to ignore the object of his anger. Then we have the active anger, where the outraged person would raise his voice or inflict harm,” she says. Studies in the behavioral sciences say that anger can be constructive, she adds. “There is what we call sublimation. This is a way of expressing your anger in a more productive way,” she says. “If, for example, you’re mad at your parents, instead of fighting with them, you can study hard to show them that you can be successful.”
The Rage Effect
No doubt about it, getting outraged is bad for you. The Filipino term for getting ticked off, which is ‘hina-high blood,’ rings true. Dr. Mallilin gives the physiological effects of being fast to get furious. “When a person gets angry, there is a fight or flight response. Her metabolic rate speeds up and there is a release of hormones such as dopamine, epinephrine, and adrenalin. There is a release of chemicals in the body to sustain the rush or anger. The effect is that the heart beats faster, blood pressure shoots up, and blood vessels are constricted. The term nanginginig sa galit also rings true, because of all the chemicals that are rushing to your brain,” she enumerates. The result? A person who often has this reaction can get really sick. Among the diseases connected with this unhealthy emotion are stroke, hypertension, diabetes, ulcers, and gastritis. So it is really so much better to stay calm.
Trigger Trouble
What is important, says Dr. Mallilin, is to find out what ticks you off. “Know your trigger,” she says. “What makes you flare up? Is it your partner’s nagging? Is your employee unable to help you meet your deadline?” Then, she advises, accept that this is your trigger. Accept that you are highly strung, but also accept that you want to change.”
There are other possible anger triggers that are out of your hands. One of them is PMS or Premenstrual Syndrome. “The higher levels of estrogen in your body during this time of the month make you more sensitive and more attentive to sexual innuendos. That way, about two weeks before period, a woman becomes maramdamin and matampuhin.” She cautions, though, that this should not happen every month. “If a woman observes this oversensitivity regularly, as in 12 months in a row, she should mention this to her doctor, because there may be an underlying condition already,” she says.
Summer time is also hothead season. “Actually, it is not solely because of high temperatures. When I went to the Northern Hemisphere on a recent trip, I noticed that people there were also masungit. They were in a hurry to get indoors. People become angry easily because of extreme environmental change, whether it is too hot or too cold,” she observes. Fatigue and hunger are also probable causes. So is stress, she adds.
Excessive anger may also have neurological roots, such as an imbalance in the brain, or it can be because of genes and upbringing. Anger is a normal emotion, she says, but it becomes negative if it already affects your way of life. If your relationships or your work are already affected, she further advises consultation with a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
Seeking Serenity
There are several ways to keep a lid on it, says Dr. Mallilin. If, for example, PMS is the trigger, she prescribes exercise and watching your diet. “Stay away from salty and fatty foods that can cause bloating. If you feel bloated, you will get that heavy, uncomfortable feeling,” she says. She also advises detaching yourself if you feel particularly sensitive on that time of month, so as to avoid your triggers, and to avoid hurting other people’s feelings, too.
CHILL!
IF you are having an agitation episode, Dr. Mallilin gives some quick fixes you may try:
• Breathe deeply.
• Talk to yourself or pray.
• Don’t tune in to rock tunes. “There have been studies that show loud rock music can further aggravate your emotions. Go mellow or don’t listen to music at all,” she says.
• If on the road, pull over if you feel really, really angry.
• Lessen your caffeine intake. Studies have shown that soda, coffee, or tea makes you more reactive to your triggers.
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