how can anger can be good?

There are so many myths about anger. Anger is a negative emotion. Girls are not supposed to get angry. Men are angrier than women. If anger is ignored, it will go away. Anger leads to destruction. All the myths about anger dismiss the idea that anger could be good. Anger is an important emotion and should be allowed to be felt by all individuals. 

EMOTIONS

Emotions are instinctive feelings. We feel emotions involuntarily based on our current situation and environment. There are numerous emotions we can feel and express. However, anger is the only emotion that is treated as though it should not exist. Everyone wants to feel joy. We understand when someone feels fear. Sadness is expected in certain situations. Yet, anger is expected to be suppressed, controlled, and limited. How can all other emotions be needed and required to function in life, but anger is not?

ANGERS PURPOSE

All our emotions serve a purpose. Anger would not have been included in our repertoire of emotions if it were not needed as well. Studies have shown that anger is a natural reaction to a perceived threat or a need to protect ourselves or loved ones. This promotes survival and triggers the fight response in “Fight – or – Flight.” Anger allows us to determine what is not acceptable. It helps us feel a sense of control instead of feeling helpless. Anger is a motivator and can trigger the drive to solve problems and achieve goals. Anger is an emotion that can lead to self-improvement and evolvement. 

EMOTION VS. BEHAVIOR

Even though anger, the emotion, has a bad reputation, it is usually the behavior following the anger that is destructive. Anger can feel overwhelming. The body releases adrenaline when feeling angry. The adrenaline triggers the muscles to tighten, blood pressure to increase as well as heart rate. This type of extreme change in the nervous system can adversely affect our reasoning and logical thinking ability. This adverse reaction leads to poor decisions and even violent behavior when we are angry. The inability to control our behavior and healthily manage our anger emotion is the real problem with anger. 

Anger can be good when we use this energizing emotion to behave constructively and productively.