Anger is a strong and complex emotion. It can range from the feeling you have when somebody cuts you off in traffic to the feelings of hatred and vengefulness that lead people to commit acts of violence. 

Some of us find it easy to deal with anger, while others are not so lucky. If you are one of the ones struggling to control your anger, you’re not alone. Anger is a normal emotion that everyone experiences. Yet, even though it is normal, anger can be destructive and hurtful. The first step in learning how to deal with anger is to identify the source of the anger so you can address the problem. 

What Is Anger?

While anger may seem like a simple emotion, you may be surprised to learn that it is actually a combination of factors. Just as many other negative emotions, including depression and anxiety, anger springs from more than one cause. Although the root causes of anger may differ from person to person, the main trigger for the emotion is a sense of injustice.

Anger can vary from mild irritation to intense fury. It also varies in duration, from momentary to an extended state of mind. Anger is typically described as a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, and hostility toward someone or something you feel has done you wrong.

Characteristics of Anger

When angry, our body undergoes certain physiological and biological changes. Biological changes that the body might go include: 

• Raised blood pressure 
• Increased energy levels 
• Increased muscle tension 
• Increase in body temperature  
• Spike in hormones like noradrenaline and adrenaline 

Complications 

Anger is a normal emotion. However, anger can be harmful to both physical and emotional health if you lose control of it. Some of the medical conditions and complications triggered by anger are:

• Insomnia 
• High blood pressure 
• Anxiety 
• Depression 
• Bowel disease
• Substance abuse 
• Diabetes 2
• Gastric ulcers 

Identifying Anger 

Anger is a powerful emotion with many shades. It can be manipulative and destructive, but it can also motivate you to do better or act out against injustice. For some, anger can build up slowly over time. Others experience it suddenly, triggered by a specific event, action or situation. Some people shout and scream when they get angry. Others stay silent and show their anger through action, like breaking things or hitting.

As the world becomes more and more hectic, with schedules more packed than ever, people can easily get overwhelmed and stressed, which can leave them feeling angry, but they might not be able to pinpoint the root cause.

How To Deal With Anger

Anger is a powerful emotion that can be both positive and negative depending on its cause and how it is expressed. There are many ways to deal with anger, but the most important step is to learn how to recognize when you are feeling angry. Then only you can choose an appropriate way to express your anger in a way that is safe and doesn’t hurt anyone. 

Here are a couple of mechanisms that might help to deal with anger:

• Identify the cause
• Meditate
• Work out
• Let it out
• Avoid triggers

Final Words

Learning to deal with anger is a skill that you can learn. Anger can be scary, that’s why we often bottle it up and avoid talking about it. But expressing your anger can help you cope with it in healthy ways. The best way to control your anger is to channel it into healthy behavior like jogging or playing a sport. 

To know more on how to manage anger, attend the Compliance Prime webinar.