NEW DIRECTIONS COUNSELING AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL CENTER, LLC

2355 Delta Rd.

Bay City, MI 48732

(989) 778-2272

ANGER

Anger is a normal emotion that EVERYONE has. No one can escape feeling angry at one time or another. Anger is an emotion that is closely linked to our feeling of safety and security. When our safety is threatened (even emotional safety), we often feel angry. Anger involves both emotional and physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms of anger often include irritability, rage, depression, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Physical symptoms of anger often include tingling, heart palpitations or tightening of the chest, increased blood pressure, headaches, fatigue and pressure in the head or sinus cavity (1).
Anger may also be related to underlying problems such as: addiction, severe low self-esteem, problems with mistrust, and past or present physical, sexual or emotional abuse (2).

Anger cannot be placed in one simple category, rather, there are various types of anger as follows:

• Chronic Anger: a person has anger for a long time over time, this negatively impacts their immune system and frequently causes mental disorders
• Passive Anger: often seen in a sarcasm and meanness and a person may not even realize they are angry.
• Overwhelmed Anger: this type of anger is caused by life demands that are too much for a person to cope with.
• Self-inflicted Anger: this type of anger is directed toward oneself and may be fueled by feelings of guilt.
• Judgmental Anger: directed toward others and may come with feelings of resentment.
• Volatile Anger: spontaneous bouts of anger that is aggressive toward property or people and may result in damage to property or people (1).

How do you know when you have a problem with anger? Persons who have a problem with their anger often exhibit one or more of the following:
• When they get angry, they don’t “get over it”.
• They never get angry….they don’t have that emotion or it is watered down and they never fully release it.
• They feel frustrated, disappointment or irritable most of the time.
• They are sarcastic or cynical about self and others.
• They may feel depressed frequently and for long periods of time
• They may feel angry all the time
• They may feel powerless in their life (3)
Treatment often involves counseling, anger management classes and sometimes medication, provided by a counselor, therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist.

REFERENCES:
1. www.psycguides.com/guides/anger-symptoms-cause-and-effects/
2. www.priorygroup.com
3. Defoore, B. (1991). Anger: Deal with it, Heal with it, Stop it from killing you. Health Communications, Inc.
Counseling is available at New Directions Counseling and Neurobehavioral Center, LLC. (989) 778-2272