As the effects of the pandemic accumulate, with forecasts of 12 to 18 months more of social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing, anger is a primal, normal response. But at what cost to our physical and emotional well-being?

In Volume 4 of this guest series, Psychotherapist, Dr. Francis L. Battisti, and Nutritionist, Dr. Helen Battisti give us tips on how to reign in and mitigate anger’s effect our bodies and minds, while pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves.

For over 10 years, they have worked closely with us on aging concerns and have presented many webinars and in-person workshops. Their newsletter, The Zone, is a weekly mental health and nutrition tip sheet during times of change.

While we have been doing everything we should, social distancing, washing our hands, wearing our masks and staying at home, the effects of the pandemic are forecast to still be with us for another 12 – 18 months. Feelings of frustration and anger are becoming familiar and, while we may believe that these feelings should be subsiding by now, they are still here. 

Anger is a familiar feeling that we experience but usually in short bouts. The Pandemic is pushing us to experience periods of long-term anger which may lower our threshold for tolerance of others and events. The Pandemic is an external event contributing to our chronic feelings of frustration and anger and, while we may be aware of the anger, we may not be aware just how our internal body can be contributing to the experience of chronic-anger as well … a gut feeling.

In closing, learning health-enhancing practices to mitigate the stressors of life is an ongoing effort. While the Pandemic is pushing each of us to new realizations of living, it also offers us a laboratory to try new ways to better ourselves and others.

Key Takeaways

• Our experience of anger may be both chronic and “gut” felt.
• Chronic stress may lower our threshold for tolerance of others and events.
• Even when you may be doing everything right, you may still need to do more and for a longer period of time.
• The confusion around our anger may be addressed by better understanding the role the gut plays in our emotions.

Best Practices

• Letting go of unrealistic expectations of what you think should be happening.
• Developing an attitude of receptiveness to situations we deem negative.
• Begin to explore the foods you eat and how your gut reacts to them.
• Recognize that the gut produces 90% of a “feel good” transmitter, serotonin, which is affected by what you eat.

Things to Limit

• Indulging in “over-reacting” to relieve anger.
• Excesses, such as alcohol, drugs, junk food and sugar.
• Too much mind-numbing screen time.

Quote of the Week 

“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The paraDocs are Dr. Francis L. Battisti, PhD, Psychotherapist, Distinguished Psychology Professor and former Executive V.P. and Chief Academic Officer and, Dr. Helen E. Battisti, PhD. Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist.

We have developed The ZONE, because that is exactly where you want to be during this pandemic. A place of focused attention to doing exactly what needs to be done to get you to where you need to be. The purpose of The Zone is to provide a weekly mental-health and nutrition tip-sheet during times of change.

If you would like to subscribe to The Zone, please email info@avilainstitute.org and we will get you on the mailing list.