HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ANGER?

Author: Suzanne Wirth
Date: 2015-02-19

Society defines anger as “a normal reaction with a wide range of intensity, from mild irritation and frustration to rage. It is a reaction to a perceived threat to oneself, our loved ones, our property, our self-image, or some part of our identity. Anger is a warning bell that tells us that something is wrong.” In life one thing that I have come to realize about anger is, the longer we hold on to anger the heavier it becomes. Think about it if you hold a grudge towards someone and bury it deep down inside then it will start to hurt you from the inside out. Do not put yourself at risk; learn to deal with your emotions and care for them just as you deal with your physical body.

Anger has three components. You will notice as you get angry that you can have a physical reaction. Your body temp can start to rise, you can also get a blushed face due to heart rate increasing and your blood pressure can go up. All of these physical reactions can be a risk to your health. If any of them happen you should excuse yourself from the situation and figure out where all this emotion is coming from and how to deal and cope with it. Use the mantra inhale energy and blow out stress!

Another component to anger is the cognitive experience of anger. The cognitive experience of anger is how we perceive and think about what is truly making us angry. It is important not to dwell on the feeling, instead look at the situation in its entirety and then take your time and approach and work through what you need to so you can address the feelings that you are having.

The last component to anger is behavior. The behavior of our anger is how it is expressed. Releasing anger in a healthy way could be something as simple as punching a pillow with two fists. Or try sitting in your car, ignition off, windows closed, and yelling at the top of your lungs. Sometimes it seems as if anger is a separate entity. Many people are so afraid of their own anger that they deny that it is even there. Learning how to work with your anger can teach you a lot. Basically anger is to make change. Something in your life needs to change. This could be your job, your living situation or perhaps even what you have been neglecting like having fun. Using the origin of your anger to help you find a direction will help you decide what to change. As adults we have been taught how to control our behavior, anger is not an exception to that rule. With guidance you can learn how to release your feelings appropriately. There’s no need for an explosion and no one and nothing will get harmed. If you need help reach out to someone you care for and have a brain storming session to search for remedies to your anger. Sometime feelings just need to be released and discussed and then a whole new way of feeling can emerge.