Anger is a fundamental human emotion, much like happiness, sadness, anxiety, or disgust. These emotions are linked to fundamental survival and have been developed throughout human history.
Anger is associated to the sympathetic nervous system's "fight, flight, or freeze" reaction; it prepares humans to battle. Fighting, on the other hand, does not always entail throwing punches. It may inspire communities to fight injustice by enacting new laws or enforcing new norms.
Of course, if anger is used excessively or regularly, it can strain relationships and harm one's physical health in the long run. Prolonged production of stress chemicals linked with rage can kill neurons in brain regions related with judgement and short-term memory, as well as impair the immune system.
Types of Anger:
1. Passive Aggression - Many people avoid admitting they are furious because they dislike confrontation - this is known as passive aggression. This manifests itself in behaviours such as remaining silent when furious, crying, delaying (putting off tasks that must be completed), and pretending "everything is OK." Passive hostility stems from a desire to be in command.
2. Open Aggression - Many people, on the other hand, have a tendency to lash out in wrath and rage, becoming physically or verbally violent and frequently injuring themselves or others. This is known as Open Aggression. Fighting, bullying, blackmailing, accusing, yelling, shouting, sarcasm, and criticism are all manifestations of this. Open hostility stems from a desire to be in command.
3. Assertive Anger - Being calm and confident, talking and listening, and open to aid in dealing with the circumstance are all good ways to cope with rage. This assertive anger can aid in the development of relationships. It entails thinking before speaking, being confident in how you express it, but remaining open and adaptable to the 'other side.' It entails being patient, without raising your voice, sharing your emotional state, and truly attempting to comprehend what others are feeling. When you deal with your anger assertively, you exhibit maturity and concern for your relationships and yourself. Forgiveness is always crucial; whether someone apologizes for making you furious, or if you realize the situation "isn't worth it," be willing to forgive. And willing to be forgiven as well as to forgive yourself! This will assist you in calming down and allowing your connections with others to grow.
The Power of Anger:
Anger can really be beneficial. Anger serves as a warning indication that something is wrong. It has the ability to provide energy.
Anger can help you overcome your anxiety of establishing your wants and dealing with disagreement.
And, certainly, anger may be dangerous. "A man is seldom in worse company than when he jumps into a passion and is over himself,". "People who fly into a passion always make a terrible landing," Will Rogers remarked.
Why does anger sometimes feel good?
In contrast to anger resulting from interpersonal conflict a transgression or betrayal moral outrage focuses on inflating one's own sense of self rather than exposing someone else's bad behaviour. This form of anger, known as virtue signaling or moral grandstanding, may highlight one's virtuous characteristics by highlighting non-virtuous characteristics in others. Essentially, instinctively putting others down promotes oneself.
From an evolutionary standpoint, people sought and maintained high social standing within small-scale societies. Expressing anger at the acts of others may serve to improve the status of the individual expressing the outrage, which may explain why outrage feels so wonderful so often.
How to manage Anger?
If you are frequently taken away by anger, it might be beneficial to identify the patterns that set you off. It is possible to intervene at several stages along the journey to properly cope with rage.
1. Sleep: Sleep deprivation makes it more difficult to manage furious emotions, so getting enough sleep on a regular basis might help you avoid being provoked.
2. Consider alternate interpretations: Also, consider what evidence you have to back up your angry perspective. Consider several points of view.
3. Take long, slow, deep breaths: Use the diaphragm rather than the chest to take long, slow, deep breaths.
4. Avoid the "catharsis myth": Venting anger, behaving aggressively, and seeing aggressive content do not successfully relieve anger.
5. Know that it is okay to be angry: If you have been wronged, treated unfairly, or provoked, you should be upset, but express it assertively rather than forcefully.
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