By M.Krishnamoorthy
A former Associate Professor, author, media coach, and journalist
Imagine being 18 years old and watching your grandmother collapse after a heated family argument. So the only way to counter stress and anger is to keep fit. #JomFit
For Anjanee Sharma, that moment never left her imagination. Her grandmother suffered a stroke and survived, but spent much of the following five years bedridden. The experience stayed deeply etched in Anjanee’s mind and later influenced her decision to study psychology and understand the connection between emotional stress, the mind and the body.
“The family argument that day was nothing unusual – tempers rising, voices overlapping, the kind of disagreement many families have and later forget,” Anjanee said in an interview with Newswav.com.
Born in Bangkok and now based in Kuala Lumpur, Anjanee left home for boarding school at the age of six. Her education and life journey later took her through India, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Years later, after studying psychology and entering the mental health field, she began to understand her grandmother’s experience from a different perspective. She realised the mind and body don't operate separately. Strong emotions can create very real physical responses.
That understanding eventually led her into work as a therapist, trainer and mental health professional, supporting both individuals and organisations.
What happens inside the body when we are angry? Anger is a normal human emotion. It is neither inherently good nor bad. But when anger becomes intense, the body can move into a heightened state of alert.
“Heart rate may increase, blood pressure can rise, and the body can release stress chemicals such as adrenaline,” Anjanee explained. Another important part of the body’s stress response involves cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone. The body produces cortisol as part of its natural stress response. In the short term, it helps us respond to challenging situations.
“The problem is not that cortisol exists — we need it,” Anjanee said. “The concern is when the body is repeatedly exposed to stress without enough opportunity to recover.”
Scientific research has shown that anger and psychological stress can activate the body’s stress-response systems. In some situations, this can be linked to increased cortisol levels, although the response varies from person to person and doesn't happen the same way every time.
What is clearer is that intense anger can temporarily strain the cardiovascular system. The connection between emotional stress and the body is real. For Anjanee, this brings us to a simple but important question:
If anger can place the body under such pressure, is holding on to it really worth the cost?
What do we do when anger rises?
Anjanee believes the answer begins with something remarkably simple — creating a pause.
"We cannot control every person, situation or event around us. But we can learn to create a small space between what happens and how we respond. Sometimes that space begins with just a few seconds of conscious breathing. “When you notice anger rising, try not to respond immediately,” she said. “Inhale gently for four counts and exhale slowly for six.”
Slowing the breath can help reduce the body’s state of arousal and give the mind a moment to settle before we speak or act. The purpose is not to make anger disappear. Nor is it about suppressing emotions, pretending something hurtful didn't happen, or allowing unacceptable behaviour.
It is about creating enough space to choose our response, rather than letting the emotion choose it for us. A few seconds of silence, mindful breathing or meditation can help create that space. Sometimes, those few seconds are enough to change a conversation's direction.
Instead of reacting immediately, we become aware of what is happening inside us. And within that awareness lies a choice. One pause. One breath. One moment of silence.
Sometimes, the most powerful response to anger is to remain silent.
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (https://helloimkrishna.com/) is a media coach, former Associate Professor, and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks, and The New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns.
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