Nobody goes through life without experiencing emotions. They are an integral part of our beings. “E-motions”, whether positive or negative, are simply “energy-in-motion” released primarily in response to events or circumstances that we face daily. However, a constant expression of negative E-motions increases our risk of serious health problems. Below are ten emotions which carry high premium health consequences and some simple tips on how to reduce the risks associated with them.

1.      FEAR: This is the oldest and deadliest enemy of the human race. It has the ability to slap handcuffs and shackles on its victims and keep them bound up in a prison of hopelessness and frustration. The expressions “scared to death”, scared stiff” and “paralyzed with fear” all speak volumes about the devastating effects of this emotion. Fear is associated with a variety of serious health conditions such as; heart attack, stroke, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), decreased immune response and skin disorders. The main concern with fear is that it has many disguises tucked away in character traits of people who have mastered the art of hiding it through perfectionism and excessive work. However, concealed fear when exposed accounts for many undiagnosed issues especially mental health problems. The truth about such error is understandably due to the fact that emotions never die and therefore any attempt at burying feelings that torment us is not only needless but futile because they are bound to find expression sooner or later. Confronting and accepting our fears should be a preferred option.

2.      ANGER AND RAGE: Many experts agree that there is a connection between anger and pain. This is easily explainable from the chronic tension and sometimes spasms that the body undergoes in a feat of rage. Rage is an explosion of repressed anger. The expressions “blind with rage” and “ I just snapped” are vivid descriptions of a momentary disconnection between the mind and body during episodes of rage, enough to cloud one’s vision and lead to “out of touch with reality” scenarios. Therefore, tension headaches, migraine headaches, high blood pressure, body, neck, and back pains, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcers are not uncommon complaints .Such tension usually impacts the nerves to constrict, and thus reduce blood circulation. The result is a “back up” of metabolic waste through the excretory organs like the kidneys.  Highly emotional and angry people are prone to kidney disorders and may require dialysis at some point in life. This is especially true if they do not drink enough water. Traditional healers believe that excessive anger not only produces heat in the system but is sometimes responsible for involuntary night-time seminal discharge and low sperm count in some males. These complaints are typically an indication of the presence of inflammation; the culprit for most disease conditions. Anger Management and stress reduction therapies are good considerations to reduce our risk.

3.      ANXIETY AND WORRY:  It is impossible to find solutions to all of life’s problems and there will never be protection against all of life’s tragedies. Nevertheless, there is hardly an excuse for being anxious especially when viewed against the health consequences associated with worry.  “Fretting” or “sweating it” are common descriptions for anxious people due to the physical symptoms such as sweaty palms, rapid heartbeat, nervousness, dizziness, dry mouth and shallow breathing. Panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorders seem to be bed-fellows of anxious people who are constantly caught up in the mental replay of past events or fear of possible problems in the future.

4.      HATRED: Hatred is a combination of the good the bad and the ugly of all human emotions. A very powerful negative emotion that springs up with a perception of injustice, grievance or offense. Hatred is one toxic emotion that triggers terrible criminal actions because it consumes not only the bearer’s thoughts, but their attitude as well. Hatred progresses from grievances to un-forgiveness, to bitterness, until it finally eats up the totality of the bearer; similar to cancer. Hateful people are prone to auto-immune disorders, multiple sclerosis, lupus and all forms of structural misalignment like arthritis.

5.      BITTERNESS: When people are said to have a sweet spirit, it means that their aura that can fill up a room with an almost vivid welcoming fragrance. It is truly something that radiates from the inside out.  The direct opposite of this, is a bitter spirit. Bitter people tend to be contentious, unforgiving, critical and impatient with people around them.  Some experts believe this is probably a stronghold that progresses over time from rejection and abuse especially due to traumatic childhood experiences. Bitterness makes a person feel and act as though the world owes them something. They can thrive on both extremities by either being too angry and high-minded or calm, quiet but very vindictive. Most hate crimes are committed by people who in an attempt to address their bitterness believe they can rid the world of the injustices that may have put them under. Bitterness causes an excessive production of bile, faulty digestion and possibly mal-absorption syndrome. Cancer and auto-immune disorders are common with bitter people. Learning not to dwell on the hurts in our past can halt bitterness in its tracks.

6.      ENVY: The expression “green with envy” says enough about this negative emotion.  It is an extension of jealousy which leaves the victim in discontent and full of resentment of the possession of others. While jealousy tries to securely protect one’s possessions from others, envy portrays an attitude that says “if I cannot have it nobody else should”. Like bitterness and jealousy, envy feels like cancer that eats up its victim from the inside out. The spiritual and mental energy released through this emotion is toxic enough to cause death of another just by sending an “I wish you would drop dead wish” thought through projection. In essence this is what witchcraft is all about. The Greeks believe that envy releases poisonous bile and interferes with lymphatic drainage, thus making its victims susceptible to skin disorders, liver problems, arthritis, osteoporosis, and even bone cancer.

7.      JEALOUSY: Jealousy is yet another emotion of the heart. “Eat your heart out” is what jealousy does to its victims. Guarding jealously” is the expression that mostly portrays the possessive attitude of this emotion by any action which anticipates the loss, contamination, or sharing of something or someone valuable with others. It is a feeling of insecurity fear and it often leads to anxiety.  Excessive release of stress hormones causes depression for those who are trapped by this emotion. Other conditions include panic attacks, palpitations and heart problems.  On its own, jealousy is not a negative emotion; it only gets ugly when it becomes the driving force behind irrational behaviors and any form of excessiveness. Positive jealousy is synonymous with zeal almost like the jealous love of God for his creation.

8.      UNFORGIVENESS: It is said that one of the greatest attributes of love is not what one gives, but what one is willing to give up. To “for-give” is the ability to “give up” holding unto any grievances or offences against those who offend us well before they commit them. It is a decision that operates by a positive attitude of “letting go” of all weights of offenses against us. Traditional spiritual healers believe that the demon of un-forgiveness carries a weight of baggage like a hunchback. A good picture of what people who are unforgiving look like; bent over or crippled by arthritis and structural deformities.

9.      GUILT:  This is a progression of condemning after-thoughts which we   believe could have been handled differently. They begin with “if only” and soon become self imposed punishments and correctional attitudes meant to correct past mistakes for which the mind has condemned itself. Some experts have described these as automatic negative thought syndrome (A.N.T.S). Guilty emotions could sometimes really feel like irritating crawling ants which may lead to irrational and sometimes compulsive behavior, fear, depression, low self esteem and even suicide. Leaving the past behind and moving on is the best antidote for guilt.

10.  SHAME: When the issues that bring about guilt remain unresolved, shame takes the center stage. This is a painful emotion that makes a person feel degraded and unworthy. Guilt and shame are indeed the twin sisters of mental and spiritual bondage.  Some religious cultures prescribe suicide or killing to restore honor that has been lost through shameful acts. Low self esteem, depression and cardiovascular problems are associated with this emotion.