Kurt made an appointment with a therapist because he was feeling increasingly anxious. What he didn’t expect was that beneath his anxiety was something deeper—unresolved anger.

As the therapist explored Kurt’s history, a pattern began to emerge. Kurt had been holding on to resentment toward a relative who had wronged him years ago. While Kurt talked calmly at first, it soon became clear that he had buried intense feelings for a long time. Eventually, the dam broke. Kurt exploded with emotion, and for the first time, he began to see the connection between his anger and his anxiety.

This connection isn’t unusual. We know the mind and body are tightly linked. When we suppress strong emotions—especially anger—we activate the body’s stress response. Chronic stress from unresolved anger can lead to increased levels of cortisol and adrenaline, which are associated with anxiety, digestive problems, cardiovascular issues, and even lowered immune function

Repressed anger occurs when you feel anger but deny or minimize it. Instead of expressing what’s going on, you push it down. This is often a learned behavior. Maybe you were taught that anger is “bad” or unsafe. Maybe you saw adults repress their anger or lash out destructively and decided it was better to keep yours hidden.

But repression is not resolution. Over time, buried anger doesn’t disappear—it festers. It can lead to chronic resentment, irritability, muscle tension, and yes, anxiety. Psychoanalyst Dr. Theodore Isaac Rubin, in his book The Angry Book, argued that repressed anger is a frequent root of anxiety symptoms. Avoiding conflict may feel like a short-term fix, but the emotional toll can show up in the body and mind.

Kurt had a choice. He could keep pretending the anger didn’t exist, risking another emotional outburst, or he could face it honestly and choose a healthier path. He chose the latter. With the help of his therapist, Kurt began working through the hurt and developed a plan to address the conflict. He didn’t need to confront his relative immediately, but simply acknowledging his anger and processing it made a significant difference. As he faced the truth, his anxiety began to subside.

Anger is not wrong—it’s a signal that something needs attention. What matters is how we handle it. When we avoid it, it often shows up in other ways, like anxiety, depression, or physical illness. When we face it directly and constructively, healing becomes possible. Scripture instructs us to be anger but not to sin, meaning let it go and deal with it appropriately.

If you find yourself feeling anxious for reasons you can’t quite explain, it may be worth asking whether unexpressed anger is part of the story. Be honest with yourself. Naming the emotion is often the first step toward healing.

And sometimes, resolving that anger may involve forgiveness—not to excuse the wrong, but to free yourself from its ongoing emotional grip.