Anger is an intense emotion that can have a significant impact on our physical and mental health. When we are angry, our body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which cause physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. This activation of the body’s stress response can be tiring when experienced for long periods of time. After the anger has subsided, sleepiness often settles in as the body attempts to replenish and reenergize itself.
But the relationship between anger and sleep is a complicated one. In fact, being tired can make us more likely to feel angry, and being angry can make us more likely to feel tired. This can lead to a cycle of feeling angry and tired which is difficult to break.
Read on to find out more about why some people get sleepy when they are angry and how to break the sleep-anger cycle.
Does anger drain your energy?
Yes, being angry can drain your energy pretty quickly. High intensity emotions such as anger activate the fight or flight response in our bodies and can lead to both physical and emotional exhaustion.
The sympathetic nervous system activates, which increases our heart rate and breathing rate. Your breathing becomes shallower and your blood pressure and body temperature becomes higher. This in itself can tire us out as we are physically burning more energy.
On top of this, more cortisol is released when we are angry. This is part of the body’s stress responses and helps us feel alert and ready to fight. However, it is also draining and can leave us with feelings of emotional exhaustion.
What is it called when you are sleepy and angry?
The combination of being sleepy and angry has become known as ‘slangry’. This is a short term used to describe the physical effect of being sleep deprived with the addition of the emotional state of feeling angry.
The state of being ‘slangry’ has now been studied and it has been found that when people are tired they are less able to regulate their emotions generally and anger and stress particularly.
Why do my emotions make me sleepy?
When we experience strong emotions, our bodies tend to go into a state of ‘fight or flight’. This means that the body is preparing itself for physical action (fighting) or running away from danger. In this heightened state our heart rate, blood pressure and breathing all increase as the body prepares for action.
After the emotion has passed, the body is left feeling drained and exhausted due to the physical toll of being in this heightened state. This exhaustion can lead to feelings of sleepiness as the body tries to recover and replenish itself.
Strong emotions are also a reason why you feel tired around your partner.
Why do I feel tired after an argument?
Arguments can be emotionally draining as they involve strong emotions such as anger. As we express our frustrations and attempt to resolve issues, we are also releasing large amounts of cortisol into our system. This hormone is part of the body’s stress response and helps us to feel alert and energized when needed.
However, after the argument is over, this cortisol is still present in the body and can lead to feelings of fatigue as it attempts to return to its normal state. This exhaustion can then lead to feelings of sleepiness as the body tries to recover from the emotional and physical stress.
How do I stop falling asleep when angry?
It can be difficult to break the cycle of feeling angry and sleepy. The key is to reduce the amount of stress that you experience during an argument. Here are a few tips that may help: – Take some time to cool down before continuing the conversation. Stepping away from the situation for a few minutes can help reduce any strong emotions and allow you to approach the conversation in a calmer state.
– Practice mindful breathing. Taking some slow, deep breaths can help to relax your body and reduce feelings of stress or anger.
– Practice self-care. Make sure that you are taking care of yourself by getting enough rest, eating a balanced diet and engaging in activities that you enjoy.
By taking steps to reduce the amount of stress that you experience, you can help to break the cycle of feeling angry and sleepy. It is also important to be aware of your own emotional state and take a break when needed in order to ensure that you are able to approach conversations in a calmer, more rational frame of mind.
Does being tired make you more angry?
If being angry makes you tired, is it also true that being tired makes you angry? Well yes, as it turns out, scientists have discovered that people who lack quality sleep struggle with emotion regulation and in particular feel more angry than those people who get enough sleep.
In fact, although you may think you feel completely normal after a poor night’s sleep, you are more likely to experience negative thinking, and intense emotions such as anger and stress than if you had slept well. Long term, lack of sleep can even have a permanent affect on your mental health such that you will get angry more easily.
How to break the cycle of being angry and tired
Breaking the sleep-anger cycle can be a challenge but it is perfectly manageable with a few lifestyle changes.
Firstly, work to increase the quality of your sleep by adopting good sleep hygiene practices such as: Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding screens before bedtime, and exercising regularly.
Second, it is important to reduce stress, particularly long-term stress, and prioritize your mental well-being. Practice stress-management techniques such as deep breathing and mindfulness to help manage intense emotions before they become overwhelming.
Finally, take the opportunity to check in with yourself periodically throughout the day and identify areas of your life that are causing you unnecessary stress or anger. Make small changes to reduce these stressors and make time for activities that bring you joy.
By making these changes, you will be able to break the cycle of being angry and tired and enjoy a calmer, healthier life.
Conclusion: Why do I get sleepy when I get angry?
When we experience strong emotions such as anger, our body releases hormones such as cortisol that can make us feel alert and energized. However, once the argument is over, this cortisol is still present in the body and can lead to feelings of exhaustion and sleepiness as it attempts to return to its normal state. To break the cycle of feeling angry and sleepy, it is important to reduce the amount of stress we experience during arguments by taking time to cool down or practice mindful breathing. Additionally, good sleep hygiene practices and making time for activities that bring us joy can help to break the cycle of anger-tiredness and improve our overall mental health.
Therefore, it’s essential to take care of your mental health by reducing stress, practicing self-care and having good sleep hygiene in order to break the cycle of feeling angry and sleepy.