The Terrible Twos-Anger and Anxiety: Hazardous to Your Health

Anxiety and anger are hazardous to health. This article offers a selective review of research that illustrates how anxiety and anger increase vulnerability to illnesses, compromise the immune system, increase lipid levels, exacerbate pain, and increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and from all sources of death. Possible mechanisms for such effects are identified, including the role of cardiovascular reactivity. Finally, data are provided on Anxiety Management Training, a brief, structured psychological intervention that has proven effective in anxiety as well as anger management.