Physiological Cause of Anger

Anger may be said to be caused from almost the same factors that are responsible for other emotional reactions like fear and anxiety. In a situation where anger is aroused, the sympathetic nervous system is activated and this leads to the heart bearing faster, higher pressure of blood flowing in the body and a sudden rush of adrenaline. Adrenaline which is also known as epinephrine is responsible for the dull red flush that people get on their faces when they are angry. This is cased by the epinephrine that results in an increased flow of blood to the blood vessels in the face. This is also the reason why anger is often associated with the color red.

Primary and Secondary Anger

Anger can be of two types – primary and secondary. Primary anger is when there is a situation that arouses negative feelings, and the person reacts to it with anger, pure and simple. Here, anger is a simple and direct response.

Secondary anger on the other hand is when a situation causes feelings of helplessness or fear and we react with anger. The primary emotion here is anxiety or helplessness, however we choose to get angry simply because it’s easier for us to get angry rather than face the fact that we are hurt or feeling out of control, anxious or helpless. Here, anger is a secondary emotion because it is not the direct result of a situation or stimulus.

Physiological Effects of Anger

Anger has definitely been identified as one of the emotions that are most detrimental to your health. While suppressing all anger is foolish and undesirable, a tendency to always throw tantrums, have violent outbursts or angry reactions all the time has been found linked to high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension is a major cause of strokes and heart attacks. A person who has a tendency to experience attacks of anger more often has trouble sleeping. Digestive problems are also common, and such people often complain of stomach ulcers.

A person who is always angry and intense is referred to as a Type A personality. People with this type of personality are more prone to heart disease and strokes. In fact, the reduction of the incidence of disease in such people has been found directly linked to the decrease of these tendencies towards anger.