Six Negative Emotions That Can Destroy You and Your Health
We may wonder why we are not physically well. The most common reasons why are having a poor lifestyle and poor diet. But do you know that negative emotions can be the reasons why we are not healthy? There are many reasons why but dwelling on negative emotions is one of them.
The following emotions are completely natural for us to have. But if we let them affect our lives and our health, the results can be devastating.
1. Worry
Excessive worrying can trigger a number of health problems. If you worry too much because of something that is bothering you, financial problems for instance, you can feel that your heartbeats are faster than normal, and you couldn’t sleep well at night. These alone can increase the risk of your mental and physical health. Some of us may have already experienced how worry can affect our health.
Psychologist Dr. Dorothy McCoy, in her article, “The Evolution of Worry”, stated that every system in our body is affected by worry. What worry can possibly do to you:
- It raises blood pressure
- It increases blood clotting
- It prompts your liver to produce more cholesterol
All of these can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke. In addition, worry also can:
- trigger an increase in stomach acid and either slow or speed up muscle contractions in intestines which can lead to stomach aches, constipation, diarrhea, gas or heartburn;
- affect your skin;
- impact your respiratory system; and
- compromise your immune system.
These are the possible results of worrying. As a parent, I worry too much. Every time I get headaches, back aches, or even stomach aches and acid reflux, I knew it was the worrying that is causing them. The quickest relief for me is to take deep breaths, stay calm, and pray. It also helps to talk to someone you trust.
Worry accomplishes nothing and is destructive in many ways. It makes us mentally and physically weak. Besides, it is the opposite of not trusting God.
What does the Bible say about worry?
Don’t worry, instead pray. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
Give your worries to God – “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” - 1 Peter 5:7
2. Anger
Anger shortens our life span. The most physical damage anger can do to you is put your heart at great risk. Anger is more than emotion that aggravates our illness. Anger is also linked to many serious health problems such as coronary heart disease, and stroke. Imagine, if you let anger take control of you in a day to day basis then your heart is in serious trouble, not only your heart but your overall health.
According to Dr. Chris Aiken, MD, an instructor in Clinical Psychiatry at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and director of the Mood Treatment Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, there are two kinds of anger:
- Repressed anger - It is where you express it indirectly or go to great lengths to control it is associated with heart disease.
- Constructive anger - It is the kind where you speak up directly to the person you are angry with and deal with the frustration in a problem-solving manner - is not associated with heart disease.
Repressed anger is not good for us. If you get angry, be angry for the right reason . Calm down when you are angry. A sudden outburst of anger hurts both you and the person you are angry at. It is best to identify and address your feelings before you put your heart at risk. Also, bear in mind what Thomas Jefferson said: "When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, one hundred."
What does the Bible say about anger?
Control your anger
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. - James 1:19-20 (NLT)
Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool. - Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NLT)
Short-tempered people do foolish things, and schemers are hated. - Proverbs 14:17 (NLT)
3. Envy
According to dictionary.com, envy is a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regards to another's advantages, possessions qualities or luck.
Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph.D., a licensed Psychologist in the state of Ohio, in her article The Nature of Envy, has stated that envy can be a destructive emotions both to our mental and physical health. She further stated that envy is also related to depression and anxiety.
Being envious of others will never contribute to our general well-being. It affects our mental health which has great impact on our physical health. Envy is also one of the reasons, along with anger, why people kill each other. It is a motivation for murder. Remember Cain? He killed his brother, Abel, because of envy. (Genesis 4:3-8)
What the Bible says about envy:
Don’t be envious. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. - Galatians 5:26 (NLT)
Reject it. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. - 1 Peter 2:1 (KJV)
4. Unforgivingness
Some people are naturally forgiving that's why they are more satisfied with their lives and are either generally well or have less health issues.
Unforgivingness is defined by the Collins English dictionary as the state of being unforgiving. To be unforgiving brings depression, anxiety, stress, anger and hostility. It is a negative emotion which triggers a series of other negative emotions until we find out our health is already at risk. Unforgivingness is one of the true hidden causes of many serious health problems including cancer and numerous autoimmune diseases, according to Dr. Steven Standiford chief of surgery at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
What does the Bible say about unforgivingness?
Forgive your brother. “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” - Matthew 18:21-22
Forgive anyone. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” - Mark 11:25
5. Bitterness
Bitterness, similar to the other negative emotions, can have a negative impact on a person's physical and mental health. Persistent bitterness, according to psychologist Dr. Carsten Wrosch, may result in feelings of anger and hostility. When bitterness is strong enough, it could affect a person's physical health. Bitterness can destroy you by taking away your joy and making your relationship with others miserable.
"The sin of unforgiveness is a cancer that destroys relationships, eats away at one's own psyche, and - worst of all - shuts us off from God's grace," says Robertson McQuilkin
What to do with bitterness:
Get rid of bitterness and forgive. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” - Ephesians 4:31-32
6. Pride
According to Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of pride is:
- “a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance.”
- “an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements.”
Anyone can have pride, not only the rich and powerful. It is good to have pride in something you have or have accomplished because it boosts your self-esteem.
On the other hand, pride can destroy you. Pride can cause disgrace to yourself and damage your reputation. Pride can interfere with or even destroy your relationship with God and others. Pride can make you rebellious. What kind of pride is this? It is arrogance, conceitedness, or haughtiness.
John C. Maxwell said, "There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. 'Good pride' represents our dignity and self-respect. 'Bad pride' is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance."
What the Bible says about pride:
Be humble.
“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” - Proverbs 11:2
“And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." - James 4:6 -
“Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor”. - Proverbs 29:23
Take Control and Let Go
There are other negative emotions that we have other than the six that were mentioned here. These six are the most disastrous ones. It's time to let go of all negative emotions that are destroying you and your health. Don't let them control you, take control of them and surrender them to God. These are the reasons why we are not enjoying a healthy life, and healthy relationships.
