Encourage them to explain why they feel angry, don't interrupt them while they speak, and keep on asking questions until they have fully explained themselves. Try to see things from their perspective as they express their feelings. Use active listening , so that you really listen to what they say.
Bitterness is rooted in unfair, disappointing, or painful experiences that would make any human feel hurt, angry, or sad. While most people are able to feel those emotions and then leave them behind, those who become bitter hold on, refusing to forgive the offenses (real or imagined) and miring themselves in misery.
In psychology, the emotional reaction and mood of bitterness is referred to as 'embitterment'. It is an emotional state of feeling let down and unable to do anything about it. Embitterment is different than anger because although it involves the same outrage it also involves feeling helpless to change things.
Resentment (also called ranklement or bitterness) is a complex, multilayered emotion that has been described as a mixture of disappointment, disgust and anger. Other psychologists consider it a mood or as a secondary emotion (including cognitive elements) that can be elicited in the face of insult and/or injury.
Bitterness not only causes symptoms of trauma like sleeplessness, fatigue, and lack of libido. It can also in the long-term lead to low self-confidence, negative personality shifts, and an inability to have a healthy relationship.
Bitterness and resentment relate to anger. When we let anger at others or frustration at our situation fester and build up in our hearts, we can begin to develop bitterness and resentment. Often bitterness takes root when we are hurt by others or we think a situation we are put in is unjust or unfair.
By Christopher Lane Ph. D. To fellow PT blogger, literary professor Christopher Lane--and the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-V Task Force-- I say, yes, you bet, as to whether bitterness can become problematical enough in some cases to warrant being deemed a mental disorder. Emphatically yes.
The word rancor is best when you're not just talking about anger, you're talking about a deep, twisted bitter type of anger in your heart. The open rancor in political discussion prevents cooperation between political parties.
It's appropriate to say, “Is there anything I can do” or “What can I do to help this situation” whenever a person is venting anger about something. For many, asking one of these simple questions is a wonderful way to help the person recognize he has someone right there who cares about how he feels.
It typically involves a ton of resentment and feeling like life isn't fair. And bitterness can taint everything. Fortunately, it usually fades with time and perspective. But if it's too strong or lingers for too long, bitterness can keep you from moving forward and healing.
As the gustatory system senses both harmful and beneficial things, all basic taste modalities are classified as either aversive or appetitive, depending upon the effect the things they sense have on the body. Sweetness helps to identify energy-rich foods, while bitterness serves as a warning sign of poisons.
Brain Health and Bitter Tasting
There are also studies linking bitter tasting and an increased risk of developing depression and other mood disorders.
Anger: a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. Bitterness: anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment.
The tasting of bitter substances elicits the typical facial disgust expression characterized by the raising of the upper lip and protrusion of the tongue. This facial display has been interpreted as a vestige of the gag reflex (Rozin and Fallon 1987).
It's known as “the Anger Iceberg,” because it shows other emotions and feelings that may lurk below the surface. Sometimes it's embarrassment, loneliness, depression, or fear. Other times, it's a combination of several feelings.