Why am I so angry? Causes and what to do (original) (raw)

Anger is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. However, if a person feels unable to control their anger, it can cause problems in relationships and at work. It might also affect their quality of life.

Anger is an integral part of the body’s “fight, flight, or freeze” system, which helps protect us from threats or danger.

However, high levels of unresolved anger may have a negative impact on health. According to the American Psychological Association, anger has links with inflammation in older adults. This could lead to chronic diseases.

Research from 2015 suggests that the overall lifetime prevalence of intense, inappropriate, or poorly controlled anger in the general population in the United States is 7.8%. Anger seems to affect more men than women, and it also seems more prevalent among younger adults.

This article looks at the potential causes of anger, how to self-manage it, possible treatments and therapies, and when to see a doctor.

People can become angry for many reasons, and everyone experiences anger differently.

Events or circumstances that cause an angry outburst in one person may not affect another person at all.

Someone might experience anger if they feel:

Circumstances that may trigger feelings that lead to anger include:

Anger can also play a significant role in grief. Many people feel angry when they are dealing with losing a partner, close friend, or family member.

The signs and symptoms of anger can vary from person to person. Anger affects the mind and body in a variety of ways.

Effects that anger may have on the body include:

Effects that anger may have on the mind include feeling:

Other behaviors and feelings associated with anger include:

Physical, emotional, and behavioral cues can help a person recognize when they are experiencing the intermediate stages between low and extreme anger levels.

It is important to note that anger and aggression are different things. Anger is an emotion, whereas aggression is related to how a person behaves.

Not everyone with anger behaves aggressively, and not everyone who acts aggressively is angry.

Everyone has a reaction to anger, but some techniques can help ensure the anger does not get out of control.

Strategies for managing anger include:

If a person’s anger is affecting their relationships, work, and other areas of their life, they may wish to seek advice from a doctor.

Indicators that anger has become a problem include:

Some of the disruptive ways a person might express anger include:

In these cases, it is important to seek support and treatment. Expressing anger through aggression and violence can harm friendships, family relationships, and relationships with coworkers, and it may have serious consequences.

A family doctor will make an assessment and determine whether a person’s difficulties with anger are related to a physical condition or a mental health issue.

If it is a mental health concern, a doctor will most likely refer the person to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor.

Making a thorough diagnosis can help them recommend the best line of treatment.

Possible treatments for difficulties with anger management include:

Anger is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. Sometimes, it can even motivate people to right wrongs or make improvements in their lives.

Common triggers for anger include circumstances, events, and people that a person perceives as threatening, deceiving, frustrating, or disrespectful.

Many resources are available to help people manage anger, such as talking therapies and anger management classes.