Have you ever been angry at your boss who yelled at you for something you didn’t do? How about when you missed the game winning shot? Angry at your parents for making you come home at 7 PM on a Friday night. Angry at your child for not listening to you? Angry at the car that almost missed yours because it was careless and speeding? Angry at your spouse? Anger can be casued from anything occuring in our daily lives.
What is anger?
It is a feeling of displeasure or hostility. It’s a normal, healthy emotion, just like any other feeling you have. It can however be uncomfortable, make us feel emotional, and can affect the way we act.
How anger can be a result of other emotions.
Sometimes other emotions you feel may come out as anger. Being afraid of something can make you feel angry. For example a fear of being alone can come out as anger towards those that might have abandoned you. Another feeling is hurt. Perhaps there was a time where you were not recognized and you feel hurt. So instead you become angry at not being recognized. Other times there are feelings of guilt or regret. Maybe there was something that you should have done and instead you become angry at something else. Lastly there’s frustration. This can turn into anger toward yourself or others.
How anger can manifest physically.
When you become angry, there are a number of things that happen to your body, as a result of your flight or fight response.
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Heart rate increases.
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Facial expressions change.
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Face turns red.
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Breathing accelerates.
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Muscles tighten.
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Body starts to shake or feel numb.
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Voice volume increases.
Stay tuned for the next blog on how to manage anger.
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