Bitterness starts when we cling to anger and resentment and start holding a grudge. Instead of responding with forgiveness or love, we may let our negative emotions grow and treat others with passive-aggressive behavior, hostility or disdain.
Bitterness can feel worse than anger because we are left feeling helpless. Referred to as 'embitterment' in psychology circles, bitterness happens when you feel there is no action left to take, because everything is out of your control. It might be true you can't change what happened that has left you feeling bitter.
There is no one cause of resentment, but most cases involve an underlying sense of being mistreated or wronged by another person. Experiencing frustration and disappointment is a normal part of life. When the feelings become too overwhelming, they can contribute to resentment.
When someone has trespassed against us and there is no justice, bitterness is often born within us. This bitterness usually turns into indignation, and if left unchecked it will eventually result in anger, rage, and may even manifest itself in outright violence.
Tips Overcoming Bitterness and Resentment Through Talk
First, talking about the past with someone you trust is vital. It's also important that you find somebody who will encourage and offer honest feedback. Be sure to speak from your perspective. Focus on your experience rather than what the person did to offend you.
Salt enhances flavour by suppressing bitterness.
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.
Someone who is bitter is angry and unhappy because they cannot forget bad things that happened in the past: I feel very bitter about my childhood and all that I went through. She'd suffered terribly over the years but it hadn't made her bitter. B2.
The book of Hebrews warns us about allowing bitterness to take root: “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).
Bitter taste perception is innate and induces aversive reactions. Since numerous harmful compounds, including secondary plant metabolites, synthetic chemicals, inorganic ions and rancid fats, do taste bitter, this basic taste modality may be considered as a defence mechanism against the ingestion of potential poisons.
In Hebrews 12:15, the Holy Spirit speaks of a “root of bitterness” which is often the cause of the greatest difficulty for men. When bitterness is allowed to develop in the heart, the end result is defilement. Bitterness and genuine gratitude to God cannot coexist.
Wrosch warns that, in this form, staying bitter is a health risk leading to “biological dysregulation” and physical disease. One expert has proposed that bitterness be recognized as a mental illness and categorized as post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED).
Scientists believe most supertasters have the gene TAS2R38, which increases bitterness perception. The gene makes supertasters sensitive to bitter flavors in all foods and drinks. People with this gene are particularly sensitive to a chemical called 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP).
While you may not realize it, this persistent anger could actually be a sign of depression. Some people living with depression notice increased feelings of anger and irritability, directed both toward themselves and others.
The current available data suggests that bitter compounds are often nontoxic, but the chance for higher toxicity is higher for a bitter compound than for a nonbitter compound.
When we eat or drink something bitter, calcium ions are sent to our brain. And while salt can enhance sweet, sour, and umami flavours, it tends to reduce our perception of bitterness. “Bitter tastants activate our bitter taste receptors, signalling to our brain that we consumed something bitter,” Sara says.
Bitter foods have been shown to aid digestion, help nutrient absorption, stimulate immune function and even help keep sugar cravings at bay.
Sugar can be used to mask bitterness”.
Sweetness is the antidote to bitterness.
Eventually, things will get better after we've walked out forgiveness for a time. We'll even begin to learn that the experience that caused the bitterness and resentment can result in something more positive.
Bitters are a type of spirit infused with fruit, spices, leaves, bark, roots, and herbs—collectively known as botanicals. That means, fundamentally, bitters is a type of alcohol-infused with plant matter.
The key to fighting bitterness is forgiveness. When you forgive, you let the other person off the hook for their wrongs. You can hand your hurt over to God, who will handle it with perfect justice. Then you can step into freedom instead of being held in the bondage of bitterness.