Anger is a normal, adaptive emotion but may be problematic if you find yourself feeling angry frequently and very intensely. Rage and anger outbursts hurt others, damage your relationships, and hinder your ability to experience peace and joy in your life.

Contrary to how it may feel in the moment, anger does not control us and may offer a window into unmet needs and unresolved feelings, inviting us to look deeper. Anger management can help reduce the distress experienced by anger and the negative impact resulting from unhealthy expressions of anger.

What causes anger?

At its core, anger is a response to perceived threat or injustice. It’s our emotional alarm system, ringing loudly when something doesn’t sit right or when our boundaries feel violated. The world doesn’t always follow the orderly scripts we imagine for it, and when reality deviates from our expectations, anger often steps in to fill the void.

But anger isn’t born in isolation. It’s often layered, resting atop emotions like sadness, fear, or frustration. For instance, consider the anger you feel when someone cancels plans last minute. On the surface, it seems like an annoyance, but we may be feeling a complexity of underlying emotions, like rejection or fear of abandonment. Anger, as it turns out, likes to wear disguises.

What are anger symptoms?

Anger often manifests both physically and emotionally, creating feelings that can be subtle or overwhelming.  Driven by a surge of adrenaline, your body may feel as if it's bracing for a storm and may make you feel like a tightly wound coil or that energy is demanding to be released. Some people experience heat rising in their cheeks and feel their hands shaking, heart racing, muscles tensing, and jaw clenching.

What are anger triggers?

Certain triggers are universal. Being lied to. Experiencing injustice. Struggling with feelings of helplessness. But anger can also stem from deeply personal wounds. Past trauma, for example, can leave us hyper-vigilant and quick to respond with anger when old scars are unknowingly bumped. Ask yourself this the next time you feel anger bubbling up: “What am I trying to protect?” Because all anger has roots and reasons, even if they aren’t immediately clear.

What are the signs of an anger problem?

While anger itself isn’t inherently harmful, how we process and express it can profoundly impact our lives positively or negatively. An anger problem may arise when this emotion becomes frequent, overwhelming, or difficult to control, shaping how we experience the world and interact with others.

Do you find yourself exploding over minor inconveniences, like a misplaced item or a slow driver? Or perhaps your anger lingers, simmering beneath the surface, coloring your perspective on situations and people. For some, anger becomes a habit, a default response instead of a mindful reaction.

An anger problem often reveals itself in behavior. Maybe you regret the cutting words you speak in the heat of the moment, or perhaps you withdraw, allowing unspoken anger to erode your connections. It might also appear through self-destructive tendencies, like turning to substance use or unhealthy coping mechanisms to numb the intensity of your emotions.

Should I get help for my anger?

If you’re grappling with anger, remember this: You’re not alone, and you don’t have to fight it by yourself. While it’s normal to feel anger, it’s imperative to learn how to channel it constructively. Surprisingly, anger doesn’t have to be our enemy; it can serve as a guide to understanding ourselves better when addressed with care and mindfulness.

Anger often gets a bad reputation, but it doesn’t have to be the villain of our story.

By learning to understand and manage it, you can turn anger into a catalyst for healing, connection, and growth.

How can anger management help?

The process of managing anger isn’t about eliminating it, it’s about transforming it into something constructive. When you take the time to understand your anger and channel it thoughtfully, it becomes less a destructive force and more a tool for self-discovery and connection.

·       Identify your triggers for anger

·    Understand the emotional and physiological arousal associated with anger

·       Explore root causes, including past hurt and trauma

·       Build distress tolerance and healthy coping skills

·       Learn to express your feelings constructively

·       Minimize stressful or anger-evoking situations

·       Heal damaged relationships

How can I get anger management therapy?

At The Resilience Center, our therapists are licensed in Texas with a Master's or Doctoral level education and offer a wide variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques and approaches to provide you with optimal professional care for the treatment of your anger.

Take the first step towards managing your anger with compassionate care and experts you can trust.