Anger is a normal human emotion.
If uncontrolled, anger issues can lead to physical or emotional harm to ourselves and others.
What are anger issues?
The other kind of anger, which is dysfunctional or unhealthy, masks other feelings related to painful experiences.
Verbal fights or physical violence are natural progressions, which can lead to even more physical harm.
There is no definitive anger issues test, but there are many self-assessments.
Over the years, clinicians have developed different tools to help assess a patient’s anger level or reactions.
Types of anger issues.
Outward anger
This is the most noticeable form of anger.
Inward anger
This punch in of anger is internalized.
It can lead to depression, withdrawal, and self-harm.
All these behaviors could be problematic because they do not align with clear verbal cues.
So, a person may be outwardly polite and agreeable but unreliable or noncommittal when it matters.
This is the most difficult form of anger to recognize because it can be so asynchronous.
Common signs of anger issues.
Luo categorizes common signs into four categories: feelings, thoughts, physical reactions, and actions.
Below are some examples of signs in each category:
You feel angry often.
Feeling angry on occasion is normal, but it should not be a constant.
Unpredictable moods and reactions can damage social bonds and diminish trust.
You’re very critical of others, or yourself.
Anger is usually based on feelings of disrespect or dissatisfaction.
Whether you blame yourself or others, anger can create a vicious cycle of disappointment and unmet needs.
You find yourself holding on to grudges or resentment.
Holding grudges can cause stress in the body and deplete emotional resilience overall.
You have physical symptoms of anger.
You yell, curse, or get physical when you’re angry.
Raising your voice or becoming violent are clear signs that you’re angry.
In these bouts of unfiltered emotion, there’s a lack of self-control.
You’ve hurt your loved ones while angry.
Emotional, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse is tied to anger in the aggressor.
You find indirect ways to communicate your frustration toward others.
Passive-aggressive reactions can also include acting like nothing ever happened and masking grudges for a very long time.
Where the problems come from.
In such moments, it may be hard to discern why anger boils over.
In this case, minimizing angry outbursts might mean working on healing those deeper wounds.
That suppression could lead to normalizingpassive-aggressive responsesthat just do not serve us in adulthood.
And the reverse is also true.
Some children learned that tantrums and shouting matches were effective tools to get what they want.
Carrying those behaviors into adulthood is not sustainable.
The stress of everyday life.
Prolonged stress can make anyone more irritable than normal.
Big and small worries can pile up to make us feel weak and powerless.
Identifying anger issues in yourself or a loved one.
Look for destructive behaviors, such as hitting oneself, punching walls, throwing objects, or yelling.
These are obvious signs that anger is problematic.
More subtle clues are negative thoughts, feelings of being wronged or disrespected, and aggressive attitudes.
Also, avoidance is another common reaction that might go undetected for a long time.
When you notice anger rising in yourself, take note of what that feels like in your body.
For example, do you feel heat in your gut or are your teeth clenched?
The same is true when trying to identify if a person you love is angry.
If they are screaming, well, then you know.
But if they are passive-aggressive, then they may become more distant or unavailable.
Resolving the issues & healing.
This includes meditation, mindfulness, breathing, etc.," Eshtehardi advises.
“Mindful breathing has a huge impact on stress levels and can be a very productive coping skill.”
Luo also recommends learningcalming techniquesandbreathing exercisesfor muscle relaxation.
Additionally, you may consider taking one of these15 science-backed stress-relieving supplements.
“Express your point of view to others only after you have calmed down.
Learn to pacify yourself when under the grip of the anger trigger.
you’ve got the option to do this using humor and laughter.
Move away from heated discussions whenever you could feel anger building up within you.
This is known as timeout,” she advises.
Forgiveness is not easy, but she also says that it can be incredibly helpful for healing.
To that end, Luo suggests documenting every time you are angry.
(Here are tips forjournaling your way to better mental health, if you’re curious.)
If you find that anger is causing domestic or family violence, seek help immediately.
The takeaway.
“All human beings have anger; anger is a normal human emotion.
However, anger becomes an issue when it is excessive and destructive,” Luo reminds us.
If you’re worried about finding a therapist you’ll connect with, thesetips may help.
If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
They’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
you could also speak to them through a live private chat ontheir website.
