According to The American Psychological Association, anger is an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something that the person feels has deliberately done him or her wrong.”
So, anger is not necessarily bad. It is one of the emotions. Anger informs us that something is not right and motivates us to find a solution to the problem. However, the way we express people handle anger makes a difference to their wellbeing.
There are at least two ways people deal with anger. Some people displace their anger on anyone or anything that they found annoying. These people are like a volcano who erupt anytime. The way they express their anger destroys their relationship with others and with themselves. Sometimes, they may also become physically abusive. Often, the anger comes from an attempt to protect themselves from a perceived threat. They may appear to be in control, but inwardly they struggle with their lack of control.
Some people cope with their anger by suppressing and turning the anger inward. They bottle the anger inside them. However, when they cannot control it, they displace their anger on someone else. They may appear to have reasonable control over their anger, but inwardly, they struggle with self-criticism, depression and a sense of worthlessness.
Anger is a natural response to something distressing, and the degree of anger is proportional to the degree of distress. There are several methods that people can apply for anger management. They include breathing techniques and exercise. However, this method only helps to manage the anger outburst but is insufficient to deal with the source of it. The anger may come from deep-seated unresolved issues and traumatic experiences. It could be an experience of being mistreated, bullied, or constant criticism.
Anger is an emotion, but the way people deal with anger can be detrimental to themselves and their loved ones. Frequent anger is harmful to physical health. It can lead to high blood pressure and chronic pain.
People who struggle with deep-seated anger may restore their psychological, physical and relational wellbeing by talking and processing the anger with a professional counsellor.