“Anger is just anger. It isn’t good. It isn’t bad.
You can use it to Build or use it to Destory.”
— Jim Butcher

Anger Management- Managing the Volcano

   In some ways Anger is like a Volcano. When let out slowly and with purpose,  the lava can grow new foundations and build out what has been established. When tensions go unreleased and left to erupt, the results can be catastrophic!  Similarly, anger when expressed in a healthy way can help individuals identify their boundaries, relieve stress, motivate them to be creative and solve problems in their lives, and to be assertive and communicate their negative feelings. 

It is normal to express anger. Let me repeat... experiencing anger from time to time is normal and even healthy. 

On the other hand, anger can also be explosive and have a negative impact on the ones we care about. It can get in the way of our career and our relationships. When left unchecked it can reek havoc. Sometimes this type of anger can happen because the present situation reminds one unconsciously of a past experience. It can be a protective fight response that didn’t get a chance to be expressed. It can also be a sort of defense against more vulnerable feelings such as sadness or fear. Individuals who find they are experiencing lasting, extreme anger may find it helpful to explore its causes with a therapist.

Symptoms Of Anger Issues:

Physical Symptoms:

  • Heart palpitations

  • Tight feeling in the chest

  • High blood pressure

  • Headaches

  • Sinus pressure

  • Jaw issues such as grinding teeth or TMJ

Emotional symptoms of anger:

  • Increased Stress

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Blaming others

  • Using obsessive words

  • Jumping to conclusions

  • Over generalizing

Types of Anger:

  • Chronic anger, which is prolonged, can impact the immune system and be the cause of other mental disorders

  • Passive anger, which doesn’t always come across as anger and can be difficult to identify

  • Overwhelmed anger, which is caused by life demands that are too much for an individual to cope with

  • Self-inflicted anger, which is directed toward the self and may be caused by feelings of guilt

  • Judgmental anger, which is directed toward others and may come with feelings of resentment

  • Volatile anger, which involves sometimes-spontaneous bouts of excessive or violent anger