Resentment: the emotional wound from the past that harms the body

Resentment is not simply a brief flash of anger. It is the persistent decision, or inability, to keep returning to an offense, betrayal, humiliation or injustice, sometimes for decades. The article describes the resentful person as trapped in a loop where the grievance returns with the force of the first day.

That unresolved past can keep the body acting as though it is under attack. The first effects may appear in the heart and blood vessels: sustained resentment can raise blood pressure, accelerate the heart rate even at rest and increase the risk of coronary disease and heart attack. The body responds to the remembered offense as if it were a present threat, repeatedly activating its alarm systems.

The prolonged alert state also carries a hormonal cost. Cortisol remains elevated for longer than it should, disrupting sleep, encouraging weight accumulation around the abdomen and making the body more resistant to insulin. The immune system may also weaken, reducing defences against infections and increasing low-grade inflammation associated with a broad range of chronic diseases.

The tension can become physical. The neck, jaw and back may remain rigid, leading to tension headaches, while the digestive system can suffer through the connection between emotional state and the gut. Constant vigilance can also produce fatigue that has little to do with physical exertion. The article says resentment may leave a mark even at the cellular level and may contribute to ageing, but stresses that there is no clear evidence that resentment by itself causes a particular disease.