The following is a transcript of an interview between Patrick Wanis, Human Behavior and Relationship Expert, PhD and Dr. Michael Bauerschmidt, Medical Director of Full Potential Health Care https://www.fullpotentialhealthcare.com/ revealing how anger seriously impacts your body, aging you and causing death via strokes, coronary artery disease and heart attacks. Patrick Wanis and Dr. Mike also reveal quick and effective ways to deal with anger. For previous part of this transcript (Part 2), click here: https://patrickwanis.com/blog/anger-produces-adrenaline-poison/
Patrick: Okay. So in a moment, we’ll reveal the actual solutions to anger.
The one point I’m trying to gain clarity on myself is that once your body has released all this adrenaline, you referred to it as a surge. So there’s a surge of adrenaline in your body. If you’re sitting in a car, there’s little you can do other than some deep breathing.
But if I was startled and I was on the street and I have this surge of adrenaline, isn’t the safest and the best way to respond to that adrenaline, to actually, for example, run it out to utilize that adrenaline?
Dr. Mike: Well, not necessarily because your adrenaline actually goes through many of the same metabolic pathways of — the stress hormones, particularly, go through the same metabolic pathways that your other hormones do. So running —
Patrick: What does that mean?
Dr. Mike: Well, that means estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, epinephrine, cortisol — all these get processed through the liver. And in Fight or Flight, remember the liver is not considered a fight-or-flight organ. When you’re talking about fight-or-flight organs, you’re talking about your muscles, your heart, your breathing — things that are going to get you out of the way. Your liver is kind of like — it’s more of the parasympathetic side, the more like hey, let’s digest and relax.
So if you had that surge and you run, you’re actually maintaining that Fight-or-Flight Syndrome, you’re responding to it; as opposed to if you just relax and recover, then your liver will be better able — the blood flow will increase to the liver.
When you’re running, you’re feeding your muscles, your heart, your fight-or-flight organs, so the blood is being diverted so it’s not getting processed, your adrenaline’s not processing, your stress hormones aren’t processing. So you’re just kind of keeping them in there and building them up in a way because you’re still engaged in vigorous physical activity.
Patrick: So then you’re saying in this situation, even with the surge, deep breathing is still a positive, appropriate response?
Dr. Mike: Absolutely. Here’s the difference. You know, to me, there’s two definitions of fear. The first one involves using an expletive, so we’ll just say Freak-Everything-And-Run fear. And that’s appropriate if you’re like your car is going over a cliff or, you know, you’re seeing a semi coming at you head on or, you know, somebody’s — pulls a knife on you and wants to rob you, those — you know, getting out of there is really an appropriate response.
Patrick: Okay.
Dr. Mike: The second definition of fear is Face-Everything-And-Recover, where you assess a situation, you take a moment, you kind of go, you know, I’m in the car, yeah, I may be late for my appointment, but what’s the worst thing that’s going to happen other than me being late, you know? Is it worth me having a heart attack? Is it worth shortening my life over? Is it worth risking getting in an auto accident ’cause I’m about to do something stupid to try to get around the slow guy?
Patrick: So we’re actually engaging our rational ability to try and control our emotions?
Dr. Mike: Exactly. And the first thing is just having the awareness that something bad is going on.
Patrick: So anger, like chronic anger or continuous battering of anger affects our adrenal glands, engages the fight-or-flight response, it creates oxidative stress. What does it do to our neurotransmitters?
Dr. Mike: Have you ever tried to be angry and laugh at the same time?
Patrick: I haven’t, but I’m sure it’s difficult.
Dr. Mike: Yeah. And you start to think about — it’s really hard because your brain can’t be in two places at once. And the stress — the fight-or-flight hormones are your stress hormones. And when you’re under stress, your relaxation hormones — your dopamine, your oxytocin, your serotonin — those levels all go down. And so, if you’re chronically angry, you’re going to end up chronically depressed, under current terminology and understanding of neurotransmitters.
Patrick: Is it also true that when we are angry, we truly can’t think rationally for the reasons that you’re talking about because they affect the neurotransmitters?
Dr. Mike:Exactly.
Patrick: Not just that we can’t think rationally, but we can’t think intelligently.
Dr. Mike: Precisely. Have you ever like, “I got to get out of here, oh, by the way, can you spell prestidigitation for me?” You’re not engaging the rational parts of your mind. You’re not engaging the higher levels of your mental capacity. You’re engaging your more primitive brain, things about get me the heck out of here.
For Part 4 of this transcript – the continuation, click here: https://patrickwanis.com/blog/anger-is-catabolic-it-breaks-down-your-body/
Anointed “The Woman Expert” by WGN Chicago, Patrick Wanis PhD is a renowned Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert who developed SRTT therapy (Subconscious Rapid Transformation Technique) and is teaching it to other practitioners. Wanis’ clientele ranges from celebrities and CEOs to housewives and teenagers. CNN, BBC, FOX News, MSNBC & major news outlets worldwide consult Wanis for his expert insights and analysis on sexuality, human behavior and women’s issues. Wanis is the first person ever to do hypnotherapy on national TV – on the Montel Williams show.