OT: Anger Part 1

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Good post from another list....

Anger is one of those emotions that seems to get the best of us. In terms of difficulty in controlling, it ranks second only to love. The negative and often immediate consequences, however, push anger to the top of the list of emotions worth a closer look. Anger is a very complex emotion. It is rarely pure but rather gets mixed with other strong feelings such as frustration, fear, rage, depression, and anxiety. It is not an automatic response to anything, however. Anger is conditioned in us through our experiences and our thoughts about ourselves and our environment. For instance, if you feel you are less intelligent than others, remarks or names like "stupid" or "idiot" will tend to anger you more. On the other hand, secure feelings about ourselves and our environment, allow us to stave off such remarks as untrue, and therefore results in less or no effect on us. Anger is a very powerful emotion, especially when combined with other feelings. It clouds the way we think because it is so easy to focus on and because it has a powerful effect on our bodies. When we get angry, it is because something has triggered us and certain thoughts instantly run through our minds. When we feel threatened or put down, or ashamed, we typically tense up… blood flows to our muscles and away from our organs, eyes narrow, and our heart beats harder. All this happens rather quickly, and the resulting feeling can be anger or a combination of similar emotions. Once the anger takes over, little attention is given to rational thought. We are suddenly thrown into emotional turmoil, where feelings are in charge, rather than rational thoughts.Anger is one of the most misunderstood and overused of human emotions. Anger is a reaction to an inner emotion and not a planned action. Anger is easier to show: everyone gets angry. The feelings underlying the anger reaction make us feel vulnerable and weak; anger makes us feel, at least momentarily, strong and in control. Angry behaviours are learned over the life-span and therefore can be unlearned and replaced with healthier patterns of coping. Anger can be an immediate reaction to an isolated event or it can be a response after numerous events. To repress anger is unhealthy and yet to express it impulsively, as we so often do, may give momentary relief but inevitably will carry negative consequences. To alter our angry responses, we need to understand from where it comes. There are a variety of factors that increase the probability of an anger reaction. If we have seen our parents get angry first and resolve an issue after, we are more likely to use the same approach. Thus, types of anger are learned. If we are frustrated and feel stressed, we are more likely to react with anger. If we are tired, we are more prone to react in an angry fashion. If we tend to hold our feelings inside rather than talk them out, we are more likely to have an angry outburst as the pressure increase much like a pressure cooker.

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