BITTERNESS
Poorly managed stress can lead to early-onset memory loss and even dementia. This claim is not a mere opinion. It is factual, and it is based on reliable research. If you wish to live a long and happy life, this article will interest you.
To be clear about the meaning of poorly managed stress, let’s look at some of its features.
Inability to recognize difficult emotions in oneself, such as anger, sadness or fear
Unwillingness or inability to express such emotions
Confusion about the meaning and impact of difficult emotions
Uncontrolled outbursts of anger
General states of anxiety and excessive worry
Continuous pessimism and negativity
Depression and extreme mood swings
Self-loathing and inability to stand up for oneself
Irrational fears and phobias
Guilt and shame which signify that happiness is gone forever
Dependency on the approval of others
Lack of self-reliance
Inability to let go of the hurts delivered by people and events
Refusal to accept that certain situations and circumstances are beyond one’s control
These and other features, too numerous to mention, can result in and be evidence of poorly managed stress. If you’ve had any such experiences, you may know that the feelings don’t just go away, and bitterness can come all too easily.
A common cause of bitterness is the element of injustice. Something bad happens or someone hurts you, and nothing is done – or can be done – to remedy the injury. A client of mine, suffering from severe depression, had been in a business partnership with a friend, who later stole the firm’s money and left him broke. The legal details were unclear. Now he was in middle age and believed his life was over. He was bitter, lethargic and unmotivated to rebuild his life.
There’s an old saying, that holding on to bitterness is like drinking poison in the hope that it will kill the person who hurt you.
When we hold on to bitterness and to the outrage of the injustice, we are not hurting anyone but ourselves. In those cases, we remain negatively attached to the memory of what was done to us, and we are forever slave to that memory. We can never be free, because we cannot or will not let it go. On the contrary, letting go will allow us to move forward and be happy.
If bitterness is keeping you from being happy and free, I invite you to reach out. Be encouraged: it is possible to break free of the chains of bitterness, and I believe I can help. It would be an honor to be of service. The phone number is (219) 309-3928.
For more ideas on bitterness, click here Conflict #29 Letting Go.
Thanks for reading!