AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - Almost everyone has had their feelings hurt at some point in their life. Some people react with anger. Others hold resentment. But experts say you could be doing more harm than good to your health by not letting grudges go.
"There is an old saying that when we have resentments toward another person it's like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die or to be effected," said PsyCare Clinic Director Dr. Deirdre Petrich.
Dr. Petrich says holding grudges is common and is caused by people losing control of their own emotions. "Because we're projecting everything on to the other person and we are letting them control how we feel and that is never a good situation."
In fact, Dr. Petrich says it can impact your own health.
"We know that stress and anger effects your adrenal glands and it causes your body to function at a lower level and your body is more tense and everything. You are under distress. So, when someone is holding a grudge they are acting angry," Dr. Petrich said.
Petrich says getting to the bottom of the anger can help people more forward. "Anger is never a first emotion. It's second. So, I would figure out underneath that anger what is your feeling? Are you hurt? Are you jealous? Are you disappointed? Are you sad? Figure out what it is really about. Get to the bottom of it before you approach another person," Dr. Petrich said.
Some people believe that in order make things better, they have to relay their anger to the person that offended them. Petrich says that's not necessarily the case. "There may be no way to make it right with a person, but make it right with yourself."
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