This is my understanding of one aspect of my mother .. bitterness (regarding my father) which I believed, still believe, is the root of her REAL health issues [ not the imagined ones long story ]
WHEN ANGER TURNS TO BITTERNESS
We’ve all had the experience. Something or somebody makes us angry. A co-worker gets the promotion that we were expecting. Another person starts a rumor or is unfairly critical. Nobody knows what we’re thinking because we keep our feelings hidden, but anger flares inside. Sometimes it festers there for days or weeks and eventually it turns into bitterness. It’s a common human emotion that can be destructive if it isn’t checked.
What is bitterness?
Bitterness is an attitude of prolonged, intense anger and animosity, often accompanied by cynicism and resentment. The bitter person may have been wronged or frustrated, but he or she does not try to deal with the resulting anger. Instead, the person dwells on the individual or event that caused the anger. Instead of fading away, the anger builds in the mind, and often there is a determination or an obsession about striking back or getting even.
Bitter people tend to hold grudges and are characterized by sarcasm, critical attitudes, self-righteousness, negative feelings, and frequent conflicts with others. Sometimes emotional or physical illness results because bitterness held within gets in the way of the mind’s or body’s ability to function effectively.
