2/21 2008
Intriguing study - more evidence that being smart with feelings is key to success in life. In this case - recovery from illness.
Those with low anger control produced higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which was in turn, associated with delayed healing.
Source: BBC NEWS | Health | Anger control key to recovery
While I’m not crazy about the phrase “anger control” (because “control” is the most superficial form of self-management - kind of like someone saying you should “control your wife”), the concept makes so much sense. Feelings tied to danger (ie, stress response) focus our body on short-term problems (fight the lion).
Likely one reason feelings like hope, courage, and compassion speed healing is that they reverse stress.
Bookmark
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I suppose physiologically it stands to reason that while under stress (fight/flight/freeze) more important than healing current injuries is the ability to prevent future injuries.
I have observed that the very oldest people always seemed to be more optimistic, calm and content. I thought it was a result wisdom gained through a long life. Perhaps it works the other way around.
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
HI,
It seems to me that as societies speed up, health does suffer, so to me the stress factor seems real and tangible. Here in Mexico, in my so called small town , growth as well as stress levels have gone way up in the last 5 years, and the results do appear on the physical level.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
So this might be part of the reason emotional intelligence is SO important in this era.
Once when we could go to a small town in Mexico to get away from many of the stressors, we might have been able to get by without developing these skills.