The effect of each emotion on various parts of the human body
Emotions not only influence mental health but also play a significant role in overall physical health. In this section ofSelMagzwe want to understand how controlling emotions can be very important for both mental and physical health.
Have you ever thought about how feelings impact your outlook on life and your physical health? Yes, emotions! Many people tend to ignore this fact.
By managing your emotions, you help not only yourself but also create a special harmony between your mental and physical health. As you will read in this section of SelMagz, here are some emotions that affect the human body.
1- The effect of jealousy on the human body
Some people find feeling jealous, to some extent, somewhat pleasant. Normal jealousy occurs when someone fears that they are losing the love or admiration of others. Unhealthy jealousy destroys the love between hearts and damages friendships and family relationships.
The stress caused by jealousy increasesheart rateandblood pressureand may also lead to symptoms likeloss of appetite, significant weight gain or loss,insomniaand digestive problems, among others.
Try to accept the person with their positive traits and never compare yourself to others. With some of these strategies, you can prevent jealousy from overcoming you.
2- Anxiety and anger
FeelingsAngerSometimes accompanied by feelings of hatred, irritability, and intense rage. These emotional states can lead toheadachesinsomnia, digestive issues, skin diseases, heart attacks, and strokes.
If you are a stressed person, during episodes of anger, the intensity of the feeling is much higher. This is because symptoms ofanxietyalso develop, so never let anger control you. Take a moment to think about what is making you upset, then talk to others about your feelings. Try to find a solution and overall protect your health.
3- Depression
The feeling of depression is a kind of brain disorder that causes sadness and sorrow. This feeling ultimately leads to various illnesses and weakens the immune system. It also causesdepressionto bring about insomnia, unrest, and intrusive thoughts into the brain.
The feeling of depression combined with anxiety can increase the risk ofheart attackin depressed individuals. People with depression may struggle with concentration, memory, and decision-making capacity.
4- Hatred
The feeling of hatred toward something or, worse, toward someone, is one of the emotions that is very hard to control. Unlike fear and anger, which increase heart rate, hatred may somewhat decrease it.
It can also cause nervousness and nausea, which are often due to physiological factors in the digestive system. In such cases, taking a deep breath, thinking carefully, and trying to act opposite to this feeling—imagining the person or thing as interesting or lovable, and even being kind—can help prevent its effects.
5- Fear
When someone feels fear, their face often turns pale. This reaction is caused by the autonomic nervous system’s response, triggering the fight-or-flight response. During this state, blood vessels send more blood to the muscles to prepare the body to confront or escape the threat.
6- Shame
Shame and modesty are somewhat appropriate if they do not negatively affectself-confidenceor personal willpower. Unhealthy shame becomes a part of the person, leading to feelings of anxiety. This causes the hormone cortisol, which
the stress hormone,to be secreted, ultimately causing blood vessel constriction and an increased heart rate.To overcome feelings of shame, do not compare yourself to others. Also, try not to fear what people think or say about you. Remember, only you know all the truths about yourself! Fight with yourself but aim to be the winner, and try to love yourself.
7- Love
When you fall in love, your heart rate increases, and your palms sweat. According to doctors, this happens because of adrenaline and norepinephrine released, and the hormone oxytocin, called the love hormone, causes feeling of happiness and security. It also blocks pain in the brain, making you feel healthy overall. In fact, this is one reason why married people tend to live longer than singles.
8- Pride and contempt
Feeling false pride often stems from negative thoughts about others who, in your mind, are never better than you. This feeling leads to
stressand increasesheart rateand high blood pressureand sometimes causesstomach painfor the individual. According to doctors, pride increases the risk of various health problems. When you feel superior, it’s better to think “I just tried a little harder,” and also to see and understand others’ feelings.
Accept people as they are, sometimes apologize in relationships, but don’t be overly shy, as this feeling can limit your freedom.
9- Happiness
According to Aristotle, feeling joy and happiness is the meaning and goal of life. Being happy and having good health are closely connected. The happier you are, the healthier your body and longer your lifespan. Also, happiness helps reduce stress.
Based on statistical results, stress contributes to death in 18% of healthy people and 2% of those with chronic illnesses. So, try to hug loved ones, love yourself and others, don’t forget to smile, enjoy fun activities, get enough rest and sleep, and overall enjoy your life.
10- Automatic emotional reactions in certain syndromes
Some individuals show specific social behavior disorders that can be seen from their facial expressions. A fixed gaze and tense eye and lip expressions indicate unhappiness.
Research on the duration of these facial expressions in people with Cornelia de Lange syndrome and Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome shows similar patterns among 15 and 17 individuals respectively. Both groups exhibited automatic feelings similar in appearance.
Stress and anxiety have the worst effects
Many believe that each emotion affects a specific part of the body, for example, stress and anxiety influence the neck and digestive system, while happiness affects the chest area. However, according to the human body atlas, anger is considered the most intense emotion in the body, and feelings of love and happiness can be felt throughout the entire body.
Emotions like sadness and depression tend to destroy other positive feelings a person might normally experience.
The feelings of anxiety and depression increase the risk of death from liver disease
Besides increasing the risk of heart attack, stress can also cause liver diseases. Scientific studies show that brain disorders can lead to heart and liver illnesses, specifically fatty liver disease, which can eventually result in
cirrhosis and liver failure.Therefore, individuals with feelings of anxiety or depression face a higher risk of death fromliver disease.80- The impact of emotions on the heartDepressionThe effect of different feelings on the bodyThe feeling of fear
