Negative Emotions Can Affect Your Health - 8/5/2025

We all have fears to face during our lives, but it is how we handle them that is important. Fear-based emotions can be very destructive, and there are times when we must face these fears and deal with them in a positive way before they can affect our lives and health.

Anxiety:

In this fast-paced world, almost everyone has experienced anxiety over something. Even at an early age and with the complex problem of bullying in schools and online in this computer age, many children experience anxiety, something the older generation seldom had to contend with.

Some children are driven to please their parents, their teachers, or even to win the admiration of siblings or friends. In the end, this anxiety can be very destructive and can set a pattern for the rest of their lives.

Busy parents often do not take the time to notice anxiety in their children, or if they do, are coping with their problems. Take the time to sit down with the whole family, without the distraction of cell phones, and just talk. Listen to each other and help each other allay fears. Once you realize you do not have to strive to meet the expectations of others, you can concentrate on meeting your expectations and the goals you have set to please yourself, not the aspirations of others.

Anger:

Anger and frustration can certainly arise from anxiety. Consider the number of people who take out their frustrations on those who have been constantly belittled until they can handle the fear no longer and lash out destructively, either to themselves or to those who have tormented them.

If you feel you cannot cope with life, anger is NOT the solution. It's important to learn to face the fears that come your way and deal with them one step at a time. Look at each situation carefully and divide it into segments if you can, dealing with one area of the problem at a time. If you are overwhelmed to the point where you are angry at everyone and everything, ask for help. Living in anger not only destroys relationships, whether at home, at work, or at school, but can also affect your health.

Insecurity:

A lack of self-esteem is one damaging emotion that can come from childhood. Parents who may display disappointment with a child during their formative years can instill a lack of self-esteem that can last a lifetime. A person may feel insecure thinking “what ifs” – what if I lose my job, my relationships, my marriage? You may have other issues and problems weighing on your shoulder that worry you. Stop worrying! Easier said than done? If you tell yourself this, you will do nothing when the solution is to do something, anything, and work at it, doing the best you can.

Eventually, hard work will result in positive change and will increase your self-image. Doing nothing will result in nothing accomplished and no change.

Jealousy:

This emotion is one of the worst as it stems from within you alone. It generally involves a relationship and a lack of control over a situation or others. Does your spouse appear to pay more attention to others, have more friends, and get along with others better than you do? We cannot control the actions or feelings of another person or situation, and obsessing over this only destroys yourself.

You may be jealous of other people’s lifestyles if yours is not satisfying. If so, then take a closer look at yourself – ask yourself why you are feeling this emotion. If you cannot see a way to help yourself, then perhaps you need to speak to someone who can help you before friendships and relationships are destroyed, as only you can create the solution.

Resentment:

At times, this emotion can be related to jealousy. It may also come from your expectations of others around you that do not match up to your own. Communication is needed to explore your feelings, as it is possible that the people who surround you may not be aware of what you are expecting from them. Resentment then builds up in you as you feel no one is paying attention to you.

Resentment is created by the person feeling this emotion, and communication of your expectations is needed. It is also possible that you will never receive exactly what you expect from others, and you must be prepared to accept this.

Like jealousy, resentment is created by the person feeling it. Re-focus the energy this emotion takes away from you and use it productively.

Do you suffer from any of these five fear-based emotions? All of these emotions can destroy your life and rob you of mental peace, contentment, and a productive lifestyle. It may mean a drastic change in lifestyle and a necessary change in your attitude. Still, the result will erase the negativity if you use all that energy to concentrate on positive change.

Remember that all of these negative emotions prey on our health as well: nerves, muscles, organs, and ultimately the spine, with its connection to all parts of the body.