Are anger issues a mental illness?

            Thank you for your question, reader. There is no such mental health diagnosis as an “anger issue”. In fact, anger is a normal and natural emotional reaction that people feel in response to a situation, event, or thought. “Anger issues”, usually refer to the problems that can come from feeling anger and not having effective tools to handle or express that anger. The real “issue” with the anger then is the behavior that comes out of feeling anger. Reacting in anger can sometimes cause problems in relationship communication, at work, or even lead to things like road rage or other violent behaviors.  Some individuals with anxiety or mood disorders, thought disorders, autism spectrum disorders, or personality disorders can be more likely to struggle with managing and navigating anger. So, if you are having difficulties with anger, it may be a good idea to talk to a licensed mental health professional about other symptoms that could be related to an underlying mental illness.

What to do if you have difficulty with expressing anger or have outbursts of anger?

            If managing anger is challenging for you, you could likely benefit from some work with a licensed professional to identify how and when you are more likely to feel anger, make a plan for what to do when anger starts to build, and learn some new tools to identify and outlet your feelings in a healthy manner. This type of therapy is often called “anger management” counseling or skills building. Some simple techniques to practice when you are feeling anger are to tell someone else how you are feeling, practice deep breathing, take a short break from the situation, and do some simple stretches. Moving your body can help diffuse some of the chemicals related to an anger response.

            Feeling angry often or experiencing intense levels of anger on a regular basis can have a negative impact on your overall quality of life as well as contribute to significant health problems over time. Having anger is nothing to be ashamed of, but it could improve your life if you can learn to handle anger more effectively.