Part 5/11:
Suppressed anger is not benign. Physiologically, it can be extremely damaging, contributing to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Anger is described as a toxic emotion because it causes the body to operate under conflicting demands—both the desire to flee and to attack—simultaneously. Prolonged physiological stress from unexpressed anger accelerates aging and health deterioration.
Recognizing this, therapy advocates for integrating suppressed emotions into a more sophisticated reality—acknowledging them instead of repressing them. This integration allows for healthier emotional regulation, reducing the dangerous toll that unchecked anger can take on physical and mental health.