SWALLOWING FROGS - ANGER AND ILLNESS IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL

Northeast Brazilian women use the term ''swallowing frogs'' to describ e the act of suppressing anger, hatred, or irritation and of putting u p with unfair treatment silently. Most are all too familiar with both these situations, and their anguish finds its expression in folk ailme nts that embody distress such as evil-eye sickness (mal olhado), ''ner ves'' (nerves), shock sickness (susto), open chest (peito aberto) and blood-boiling bruises. These interrelated syndromes reflect the diffic ulties of suppressing unsanctioned emotions and of convincing oneself to feel what is socially expected while maintaining proper emotional d emeanor. The syndromes are related to a folk theory of strong negative emotions (anger, envy, anxiety, fear) causing both social and physica l harm.