Will anger make you stronger?

Anger is a perfectly normal emotional response to perceived threats. Most people feel angry from time to time. While the emotion is linked with negative things like aggressive behavior, anger can be helpful as well. Anger has a way of informing us when something is important and when we feel threatened.

Many people report feeling increased strength when they are experiencing anger. Anger is an emotion that is meant to be empowering in a sense. It arises when we sense a threatening event or situation, and anger fuels a willingness to confront a threat instead of fear of a threat, which might send you running to hide. Having the strength to stand and defend yourself is necessary for some situations.

When you experience anger, the body produces adrenaline as part of the stress response cycle. This is meant to create the ability within the body to fight, faint, freeze, or flee from danger. Anger exists to help you ward off threats to your safety or even the safety of those you care about.

The response of anger isn’t all roses, though. The physical process that anger triggers can cause an increase in blood pressure and other uncomfortable physical symptoms. Poorly managed anger can also cause rifts in relationships, problems communicating, and even acts of aggression that lead to serious consequences from broken lamps to broken relationships.

While the heady experience of anger can give you the zing of energy to face a threat or stand firm in your boundaries, it can also cause problems. Managing anger and stress are important parts of overall health and wellness. Doctors and therapists alike typically recommend prevention and lifestyle practices to help manage and alleviate anger and stress, including:

• Getting regular exercise
• Maintaining an adequate sleep schedule
• Practicing mindfulness and meditation
• Participating in progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and other relaxing activities
• Talking with friends and those you trust about your difficulties – a problem shared is a problem halved.
• Attending anger management classes online or in-person
• Working with a licensed therapist to create a plan for managing anger and to have a safe place to vent and process experiences contributing to anger issues

If you’re experiencing difficulty managing stress or anger, talking with a therapist can be a wonderful outlet and means of improving communication and coping skills.