How Managing Your Anger Can Lead To Better Sleep


In today’s health-crazed world, it’s commonly understood that not getting enough sleep can slice years off your life, especially for those afflicted with coronary heart disease.

But now, recent studies indicate that certain emotions might play a role in exactly how well you sleep, too.

One new study discovered that people with CHD who internalize their emotions of anger have a higher risk of developing poor-quality sleeping habits than those who express their anger appropriately.

The Research

In their study, researchers viewed 1,020 CHD outpatients from the Health and Soul Study and checked out their anger expression tendencies along with their sleep quality. People who internalized their anger faced 40 percent increased odds of bad sleep compared to people who expressed their frustrations.

Study’s Conclusion

So what’s it all mean? The researchers found that it’s alright to be angry, but it’s not alright to internalize that emotion, as it festers within you and can create health issues later. Bottling up your unexpressed anger could lead to anxiety, drinking, binge-eating, poor sleep, and fatigue. Anger can also give way to physical issues like high blood pressure, headaches, muscle pain, and even depression. Managing your anger is particularly important for men, because those of us with chronic anger are a whopping six times more likely to suffer a heart attack by the age of 50.

How Can You Control Your Anger?

Don’t React Too Fast

If someone verbally attacks you and won’t knock it off, one of the worst things you can do is instinctively lash back. First of all, carefully consider what’s being said about you; is it true? If it is, promise to improve your flaw in the future. If you don’t think it has credible merit, though, the best thing you can do is give yourself time to cool down and collect your thoughts for what you’re going to respond with in a controlled, mature manner.

Talk It Out

When you’re upset, despite feeling like going all beastmode on somebody, communication is the most effective weapon to use. If you construct your conversation correctly, this will almost assuredly temper the intensity of the situation. Perhaps start the conversation with a respectful statement aimed towards the one who’s making you angry, and then try to explain why you’re angry, before collaborating with the other person to figure out how to avoid similar altercations in the future.

Get Rid Of Hothead Tendencies

Sometimes, no one is specifically at fault for whatever has gotten you upset. If that’s the case with many of your rage-cage moments, try to focus on your breathing, before pondering something (or someone) that you really respect or appreciate. After a few breaths, you’ll start feeling less emotional– and more rational!



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Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Craig Sunter
