IBS AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS: TENSION AND ANGER
Negative emotions can affect the harmony of the digestive system -anger, prolonged grief, frustration, anxiety and depression all take their toll.Extreme fear can cause the bowel to evacuate spontaneously. A lesser form of this is the constant worrier who always has diarrhoea.TensionPeople who continually suppress their emotions with tension are more likely to be constipated. They might experience tension headaches or pain in the neck and shoulders, but not associate their constipation with tension. When there is an inability to relax, the abdominal muscles can be affected with the result that a person cannot ‘let go’ of the stool.AngerIf you are continually angry you certainly risk digestive problems, and not only these but also high blood pressure and heart disease.Can you imagine an angry person enjoying and fully digesting a hearty meal? Unlikely, I think.You might justifiably be angry about the situation you have to cope with, but need to ask yourself what purpose is it serving. You are only hurting yourself and probably others around you. Consider whether you are really angry with yourself because of your inability to deal with the situation. If you cannot resolve the situation by honest, open communication with the person or persons who are upsetting you, perhaps it is time to seek counselling. If the relationships in your life are under threat then it is certainly time to take your anger seriously.Often an angry partner comes home seething with problems from the workplace and vents this on his or her partner who, in turn, becomes angry or irritable with the children. Children, no matter how young, are thinking, feeling human beings who only want to be loved and to love. They are very sensitive to atmosphere. Like little sponges they absorb the tension around them and often blame themselves for being ‘naughty’. They can become very fearful. Parents often see this as being difficult and cannot see that they are the cause of the bedwetting, tantrums, failure to keep up at school, the nightmares, disturbed sleep, withdrawal, wanting to spend time in friends’ homes rather than their own. Older children might become truculent, play truant or turn to drugs or drink. Some children will start to bully younger children in the home or at school.The repercussions from one person’s anger are frightening. Misplaced anger is a form of bullying. If children are seeing this at home it is not surprising that they react in this way.If you are in a position of authority and display anger towards your staff, think hard about how many lives you could be affecting.*92\326\8*
