Anger

So what is anger?

It is said to be one of our most powerful and vital emotions. Everybody feels it at different times, to some degree. It’s part of the whole human experience. Feelings of anger can arise in many different circumstances.

Experiencing unjust treatment; hearing a criticism; or simply not getting what you want are but a few of the potential triggers that can set of this emotion.  The experience of anger can range from mild irritation, to frustration, all the way up to full rage.  Some experts even believe boredom is a mild version of anger in the form of dissatisfaction with what is happening.

Anger is often called a secondary emotion because we tend to resort to it in order to protect ourselves from being seen as vulnerable. It becomes the bodyguard of fear, shame and sadness. When we feel fearful we don’t want to show that part of ourselves so we cover it with anger and the same can be said for sadness and shame.

While feeling angry is a natural part of being human, sometimes this can become destructive and out of control. It can have a major impact on your relationships and in your work place. It can be helpful to think about ways to manage and work with the anger which can result in a more healthy lifestyle, rather than letting the angry feeling control you.

Is being angry good?

So why is anger good sometimes? Without these feelings, we wouldn’t take a stand against unfairness or injustice. It is an internal alarm that tells us something is not quite right. Research has shown that feeling angry can increase creativity, performance and optimism if channelled in the right context.

Many people come to counselling seeking help to control their angry feelings. Here at Future Phoenix our counsellors are trained in a humanistic way which allows you the space and freedom to express how your feeling without judgement. They can help you explore new ways in managing your anger and a help you gain an understanding to the root cause.