The editors of Prevention Magazine have a book, "Age Erasers for Women" which has a chapter on how forgiveness affects health, and ultimately affects your aging process. Everyone has been treated unfairly at times and it can be extremely hard to get over the anger and pain that you feel when someone betrays you or treats you badly. The hurt that you feel can grow inside you and even disrupt your relationships, work, and your peace of mind.
The longer people hold on to resentment, the more it affects their blood pressure. Dr. Robert Enright and S.T. Tina Huang, Ph.D. found did research on this topic and found that when people remembered stories of deep hurt they had spikes in their blood pressure, compared to others who were more forgiving. In fact, those who learned to forgive actually had a drop in blood pressure. It appears that holding on to resentment or a grudge will cause heart damage. Dr. Carl Simonton, co-author of "Getting Well Again" stated that "Research shows that a tendency to hold resentment and a marked inability to forgive have been linked with an increased risk of cancer".
Refusing to forgive and holding on to resentment leads to depression, stress, and anxiety. These emotions take a huge toll on the body and lead to ulcers, heart problems, and a weaker immune system.
Forgiveness doesn't mean that you become a victim again, or that you allow the person who hurt you to remain in your life. You should take action against wrong doing and stand up for the right things by going to the police if a crime has been committed. But learning to let go of resentment is a step that will impact you spiritually and physically. When you forgive someone, you aren't saying that what they did was o.k. It simply means that you release them from the debt they owe you and you are ready to move on. Being able to forgive and letting go of bitterness will give you peace of mind and better overall health.
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