For those of us that seem to constantly struggle with anger, it would be prudent to look for hidden physical causes. I'm not usually one to use physical problems as an excuse, but there actually is some merit to looking to imbalances in our bodies and what not for clues about where our anger issues are coming from. They may not be the entire reason we struggle, but solving these problems can go a long way to helping us overcome anger in our daily lives. If you take some time to discover these hidden issues, you will be glad you did (and so will your loved ones!) Here are just a few conditions that could explain the role of anger in your life.
Candida-
I first learned about Candida during a health seminar several years ago. I didn't think too much of it back in those days, but since I've been researching ways to overcome food allergies and other health issues, this one resurfaced for me. Candida is caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida Albicans that naturally occurs in our bodies. When Candida overgrowth is a problem in your body, it can emit over 70 different toxins into your bloodstream! Some symptoms of Candida are digestion related, like gas and bloating, but it also has mental symptoms. Some of those symptoms are anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability, mood swings, depression, inability to concentrate and PMS. Some other "interesting" symptoms include sensitivity to fragrances, migraines and low sex drive! Wow!
Candida can be caused by many factors. The most common causes of Candida is repeated antibiotic use, extended use of birth control pills, and a diet high in carbohydrates and sugar. The best way to get rid of Candida Albicans overgrowth is to follow a (temporarily) strict diet that avoids sugar (including fruit), certain grains, caffeine and some other foods/ingredients.
So if you have anger issues accompanied with any of the other symptoms, you may want to read more about Candida.
Adrenal Fatigue-
I had been hearing about Adrenal Fatigue here and there, but I didn't really know what it was until recently. Basically, our Go! Go! Go! lifestyle is taxing our adrenal glands (which are there to aid in our fight-or-flight response which is useful in stressful situations) and our bodies aren't able to cope under stress properly. What happens when we mistreat ourselves by being constantly on the go or being under stress all the time (or having an unhealthy "relationship" with caffeine- meaning you can't go without it...even if you only consume a small amount). These kind of things really mess with your adrenal glands, and can knock your body out of whack. (I know that's really scientific sounding, right?) The anger connection with adrenal fatigue may be something for you to look into if you tend to be "quick" to anger...and back down easily when confronted. A few more signs of adrenal fatigue are excessive tiredness (you wake up tired, and don't really get into the day until evening time), feeling unable to cope, and being slow to recover from illness or injury. Click here for a more extensive list.
Adrenal fatigue can be relieved by cutting out caffeine, processed sugars and carbohydrates, and making sure you are getting to bed at a reasonable time (no later than 10:30 p.m.)
Here's another interesting article about adrenal fatigue.
Leaky Gut-
Leaky Gut is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes permeable. Undigested food proteins can "leak" through into your blood stream wreaking all kinds of havoc on your body. You may not think that you could possibly suffer from this condition, and go along thinking that what you experience is just "normal"- but take a look at some of these symptoms and see if you experience any of this (in addition to anxiety and mood swings): abdominal pain, bloating, heartburn, migraines, poor memory, hair loss, brittle nails, and constant hunger pangs. (There are more signs, but those are just a few that you may not suspect would indicate Leaky Gut).
Many of these symptoms seem to be unrelated, but every part of your body is connected, and dependent on the proper functioning of the other parts. Also suspect leaky gut if your children have any kind of digestion-related challenges (like allergies or allergic symptoms) or any kind of mental issues- many moms of children diagnosed with Autism have also been found to have Leaky Gut Syndrome- as well as the children themselves (sorry, I can't find where I read that or else I would link to it...or give a more accurate statistic!)...which to me would indicate that mom was passing stuff onto the child during pregnancy.
If you suspect you have any of these issues, I encourage you to do some more research into these conditions for yourself. It would also be beneficial to contact a local naturopathic doctor who can help in diagnosing these conditions (as I am obviously not any kind of health practitioner- just a mom who has been searching for ways to combat health conditions in our family- including anger on my part!) Yes, anger can affect your health even further too! We put ourselves under a lot of stress when get overly upset- especially at little things in our everyday lives.
Getting proper amounts of rest, eating well, eliminating too much sugar, caffeine and carbs is a good way to overcome most of these problems if you can relate to any of this. It may seem like a big sacrifice to give up a "normal" lifestyle, but at the end of the day, it will pay off! You will have more peace and definitely be more pleasant to be around (especially to the most important people in your life)! Consider this passage from the Bible:
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19 (I know in context, it's talking about sexual behavior, but it applies to how you take care of yourself too!)
Oh, and just as a side note, I've basically eliminated caffeine (except for the occasional chocolate "fix" and the iced tea I just drank) and I've noticed a huge increase in my ability to be patient with my family members- I am way less irritable than before! Lest you think I'm dispensing advice without following it myself!
Have you experienced any of these symptoms? Do you think they may be linked to the conditions I've described? Share your experience!
