How anger(wrath), the deadly sin, is really deadly

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." - Buddha

As children, we express our anger by shouting, screaming, running around and throwing things. However, when we grow older, these same acts are called violent. It is then thoroughly advised that we keep our anger "under control". 

What does it mean to keep your anger "under control"?

Crying is the first step of anger which happens to everyone as an infant. In a year or two, it converts into throwing our toys at each other. Children fear parents, who condition them to keep their anger "under control". It isn't easy or even remotely practical to apply it to our routines. And that's when the anger begins building up in our bodies and destroying us.

When we are being asked to restrict our anger, we think it means to swallow it and store it in our brain for years. A small section of our brain is then devoted to the negative things people have "done to us" that we need to remember for years to come. It spreads like a virus in our brains and we begin to judge different human being by taking the wrong ones as a base.

Holding grudges pause the anger inside us. And after years of remorse either we finally let it off our chests or we take an unfavorable action. However, there's an added quality to anger. It may actually help us take decisions that we usually hesitate to take out of the fear of society or peer pressure, and especially if we are weak decision makers. 

In the long run, being "an angry person" can weaken our immune system and lead to a variety of problems :

The effects of anger on our health

Unmanageable anger can cause a number of troubles to our immune system and lead to a hormonal disbalance. 

It can also cause - 

• Ingestion
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Headaches
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• High Blood Pressure
• Skin Problems

Some of us begin to rely on food when we get angry. These are all the wrong ways of letting anger out, because as Buddha said, in the end, our anger destroys us. A study from University of Ohio suggests that men and women who have anger issues usually take time for healing minor wounds. 

So then, what do we do when we get angry?

There are healthier ways to express anger, provided they are practiced regularly - 

It's important to accept that anger is a part of life and happens to everyone. Once we accept that, it's easier to deal with our anger issues.

Meditating is a gift given to us by our ancestors, it should not be taken for granted. Researches have shown that regular meditation makes us calmer people.

Anger can be converted into positive energy by playing a sport, going out for a jog or dancing.

And slowly, the anger will dissolve! The world needs happy people.

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Stay Happy.

Stay Healthy.