Anger

Overview of Anger: Anger is a normal part of life, meant to protect us from harm, help us get our needs met, and prevent us from sinking into despair. Sometimes, anger is the appropriate response to misbehavior by others. Managed correctly, and kept in check, anger is an important ally for a healthy adult.

But anger has great risks, perhaps more than any other emotion. Anger can alienate us from people; it can lead us to do things we regret. Anger may arise not due to the present situation, but because the present situation reminds us unconsciously of a past experience. Anger may be a habitual defense against sadness or fear. And anger can lead to aggression and violence, potentially hurting people, including the angry person, and potentially leading to social and even legal problems.

If you have an anger problem, you may know it but not know what to do. Or, you may not know it; the nature of anger may lead angry persons to deny they have any responsibility for the problems to which they contribute. If you find yourself feeling tense and frustrated with yourself and others, if you find yourself unable to enjoy people and life, if you yell often, if you argue with others frequently, if people seem afraid to speak their minds to you or disappoint you, it is possible you have an anger issue.

Anger can be a sign of depression. It can also be a sign of more serious psychological issues. Drugs and alcohol may help mask anger temporarily, but are also likely to make anger worse at times, as drugs and alcohol reduce self-control and tend to increase impulsivity.

The Medical Model and Anger: There is no DSM disorder specifically limited to anger, though certain conditions, such as personality disorder, mood disorders, and psychosis, can lead to difficulties with anger.

Case Examples of Anger:

Claude, 43, is referred by a court for anger issues after being arrested for beating up his girlfriend and her teenage son. Claude feels regret for his actions – an excellent sign that he can succeed in treatment. Therapy quickly reveals a tremendous, irrational fear in Claude that his girlfriend will leave him. Claude realizes that it is his angry behavior may in fact lead her to leave, but, with the help of his therapist, that his fears actually stem from childhood; his mother, for reasons Claude denies knowing, left his father to care for Claude and his four siblings. Claude realizes he has great anger at both his parents for this event, and in a couples session reveals this about himself to his girlfriend, establishing a level of intimacy and trust he has never achieved with anyone else. Claude still find himself angry more often than he’d like, but is able to express his emotions more readily and avoids violence or aggression.

Sarah, 23, seeks treatment for depression, and is soon angry with her therapist because her mood does not quickly improve. She is demanding in treatment, and has poor insight into her actions, blaming others and their shortcomings for everything wrong in her life. Her therapist reframes her disclosures, focusing not on complaints, but on what Sarah wants and need s but lacks – such as intimacy, a sense of purpose in her life, and self-forgiveness for past mistakes. The therapist also identifies some biological tendencies towards mood swings. Sarah is able to express her sadness and fear, and to gain insight into how she causes herself to be isolated from others by always criticizing or arguing with them. She soon begins to work on communicating more assertively and less aggressively, rediscovers her childhood love of painting and music, enrolls in school and begins apologizing to friends for her past actions. Her anger, while still sometimes a challenge for her, is under control.

Therapy for Anger: There is a wide range of Psychotherapy Treatment Models or types of therapy used in the treatment of anger. Most of these approaches fall into three historic camps of psychology: Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic approaches; Behaviorism and; Humanism. Regardless of the type of therapy, there are some generally agreed upon elements of healthy therapy which are universal to all forms of psychotherapy. Before beginning therapy for anger or any other issue, it is helpful to familiarize oneself with these elements.

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Anger Article Summaries