ANGER MANAGEMENT

I Was Just Thinking About - - -

What is anger? It is defined as: “a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong; wrath; ire.” Some Synonyms are: “resentment; rage (vehement anger); violent displeasure.” Most are familiar with the term “Road Rage” and some may have experienced it. There is a study that states there may be a “Medical Basis For Road Rage.” The National Institute of Health sponsored a study that looked at road rage in drivers. “A general theory came out of the study, and Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) was identified as the cause of road rage…Whether or not you believe in a medical basis for road rage, you still need to know how to deal with it. Uncertain situations can escalate unpredictably, and the best advice is to avoid confrontations altogether.” Advice is given: “ If you tend to provoke other drivers or are on the aggressive side of road rage, put some effort into learning new driving habits.”

There are numerous situations that stimulate anger within another individual. There is a familiar line that was common place with some that said: “We don’t get mad – we get even.” This is known as retaliation and can be categorized as a vendetta – “a private feud in which the members of the family of a murdered person seek to avenge the murder by killing the slayer or one of the slayer’s relatives.” This would be a rule in gang warfare or in the action of nations. A current example of a vendetta pertains to the Fox News Presidential Debate scheduled for tonight (01-27-16). One person, who has the leading percentage in some polls,  has decided to skip the debate. Why? Is there a conflict in his schedule? No! Is there a pressing matter that requires his attention elsewhere? No! His official response is that “he was likely to skip the debate because he is incensed over how it’s treating him.” His objection is that one of the Moderators asked him questions last Fall that he did not find appropriate. All the Moderator had done was to quote some of the derogatory remarks he hade made about women in past years. In other words, his feelings were hurt and now he will engage in a “tit-for-tat” display as his expression of his indignation and anger!

In July 2012, The Readers Digest published an article that asked: “What Really Happen When You Get Angry?” The answer describes the physical, emotional and mental responses. “When we get mad, our rational prefrontal lobes shut down and the reflexive back areas of the brain take over. The left hemisphere also becomes more stimulated as the brain’s hormonal and cardiovascular responses kick in. A tense body pumps out cholesterol and a group of chemicals called catecholamines, which encourage fatty deposits to pile up in the heart and carotid arteries. It’s no surprise, then, that angry people are three times more likely to have a heart attack than those less prone to fury.  The fight-or-flight response can prompt your nervous system to cut blood flow to your stomach and divert it to your muscles, impacting intestinal-tract contractions and digestive secretions. Stress can also increase stomach acids…It causes a surge in the stress hormone cortisol, which bumps up oil production and leads to acne and other skin problems. During prolonged and frequent eruptions of rage, parts of the nervous system become highly activated, making it difficult to return to a relaxed state and, over time, affecting the immune system.”

The Bible gives a basic response for an impulse to become angry. Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry but sin not, do not let the sun go down upon your wrath (anger).” In other words, deal with it quickly. Ephesians 4:31 indicates a progression that can easily develop within one: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” The chain reaction is both spiritually and physically harmful. The solution is given in Ephesians 4:32, “Be  kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.” If you are a Biblical Christian, you must deal with your negative behavior and reactions. Why? Ephesians 4:30 tells us: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by whom you have been sealed unto the day of redemption.” Being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving is the standard for the Biblical Christian. Let us be committed to this being the expression that others observe in and through us! Consider these things with me.