What your blood pressure says about your personality

John, 55, has done everything right — cut down on salt consumption, exercised more, and ditched caffeine and alcohol.

Yet, he is still prone to bouts of high blood pressure.

“I’m scared,” he admits. “What am I missing?”

He’s surprised by my response: “High blood pressure can be a deep cry for help for your emotional and mental well-being. From chronic stress to buried anger, the feelings we ignore can wreak havoc within our bodies.”

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects more than 40 per cent of the UAE population, according to World Health Organisation, and nearly half of all adults in the US, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Uncontrolled hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it does not necessarily have any obvious symptoms.

Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, aneurysms, kidney complications, vision problems, cognitive decline, metabolic syndrome plus multiple other serious health problems. It is imperative that you see your medical professional to assess your risk.

The purpose of this article is not to instill fear but to encourage caution, and help you consider often overlooked factors.

The personality factor: are you at risk?

Certain personality types — those driven by a need to achieve and control, those characterised by competitiveness, impatience, and a relentless sense of urgency — are typically more prone to hypertension.

The mind-body connection: why emotions matter

Diet and exercise are fundamental health factors, but experts are increasingly pointing to the additional role of emotional and psychological stress in driving high blood pressure. The physical body and the mind are deeply interwoven and cannot be separated, thus a holistic approach is helpful.

So, what are the hidden factors beneath the surface of hypertension?

The Emotional Culprits: 

Stress is a result of external pressures and internal responses. Prolonged stress keeps you in survival mode. This endless “fight-or-flight” constantly pumps out stress hormones.

Over time, these hormones can increase your heart rate and constrict your blood vessels, leading to elevated blood pressure.

Ever felt so angry you thought you might explode? What did you do? You shut it down right? For many people, anger doesn’t explode — it implodes, building huge internal tension.

Holding onto anger and resentment keeps your body stuck in a state of constant stress, causing harm over time.

Hypervigilance, a state of constant alertness, is how many people cope with past traumas.

As a trauma certified professional I see how unresolved emotional wounds distress the mind and body. The resulting dysregulation often leads to chronic stress and hypertension.

People who religiously sacrifice their own needs to “keep the peace” create internal tension and stress. If you avoid confrontation, fear rejection, or escape conflict at all costs, your blood pressure might be paying the price.

The good news: strategies for emotional roots

• Manage stress mindfully

I am a strong advocate of intentional wellness: Our world does not offer us calm, so we have to create it for ourselves.

The regular daily practice of deep breathing can make a marked difference to calm the nervous system and goes a long way to reducing blood pressure.

Daily mind body practices can be transformative too.

If you’re carrying anger or resentment, it’s time to let it out — in a healthy manner. Journaling, creativity, exercise, or even martial arts can help you release what’s bottled-up.

Find a safe space to vent: Friends may not be able to hold on to your story, and that’s okay. If needed, seek professional support. 

Giving yourself permission to feel will lighten the load on your mind and body.

• Heal Past Traumas

The memory of traumatic experiences lives inside us like a dormant volcano, and is triggered constantly by the things we see, feel, taste, touch, smell, sense, and experience.

This constant rumble under the surface guides behaviour, reactions, and responses, and causes a ridiculous amount of disruption within the mind and body.

By its very nature, you cannot work with your own trauma as you risk getting distressed.

Working with a certified trauma professional will change your life, and your blood pressure.

• Embrace self-compassion

Stepping away from self-criticism and being compassionate to yourself will feel like a balm to your soul, and a much needed anchor to your blood pressure.

Treat yourself as you would treat a friend: kindly.

Uncovering the roots of self-criticism and your need for perfection will be a gift to your wellbeing.

• Be authentic

Everyone wants peace, but if your peace relies on cutting people off or constantly pleasing others, it’s not peace — it’s a fragile setup that won’t work for you in the long-term.

True peace isn’t about “staying calm” in the moment; it’s about who you are, even when life feels chaotic. If peace is something you “manage” instead of embody, your health will remain in jeopardy.

• Reconnect with meaning

In practice, I find that spiritual disconnection and a lack of purpose can contribute to chronic stress and hypertension.

Feeling grounded by acknowledging a higher power can bring deep peace. Exploring practices like meditation, prayer, or spending time in nature can help you reconnect and restore balance to every aspect of yourself.

Beyond the numbers: uncovering the heart of the story

John experienced profound, lasting change as we worked with the above-mentioned root causes of his hypertension.

Often, the key to wellbeing lies in the stories we carry and the emotions we’ve yet to acknowledge.

So, the next time you check your blood pressure, take a moment to check in with yourself, too. Your mind — and your blood pressure  —will thank you.

For effective support: www.drgeraldine.com