We are humans and when we don’t get what we want, we often feel angry. Anger is a very normal, usually healthy, human emotion. However, when expressing anger gets out of control and turns destructive, it can cause problems at work, at school, in your closest relationships, and in the overall quality of your life. Sometimes anger can grow into an unpredictable and overwhelmingly powerful emotion.

Mild and manageable forms of anger can include displeasure, irritation, and dislike. Reactions to to criticism, threats or frustration can trigger even more distracting forms of anger like prolonged annoyance, stewing and steaming. All of these forms of anger, while not very comfortable to experience, are completely healthy.

But, when anger explodes into full-out rage, good judgment and clear thinking can fly out the window. At these times we are more likely to do and say unreasonable, irrational, and regrettable things.

In the body, anger triggers increased heart rate and blood pressure and drives up levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Why? Well, anger is a useful emotion for survival situations and naturally drives part of our fight or flight brain response to perceived threats or harm.

When an individual acts to stop or confront a threat, anger is usually the main feeling that takes over thoughts and behavior. And lots of things can spur angry feelings, such as drinking alcohol, using some drugs, being bullied/teased, chasing deadlines, getting embarrassed/shamed, grieving, feeling hunger, being humiliated, feeling sexually frustrated, perceiving injustice, experiencing rudeness/disrespect, feeling tired, experiencing physical pain/illness, and so forth.

Therapy can help you better understand and more effectively manage how to express your angry feelings when they arise. I can help you identify your specific triggers as well as how anger signs manifest in your body. I can assist you in creating an anger management plan and figuring out what methods of anger management will work for you to feel calmer quicker, more in control, and happier.