Contents
In this article, we will go into how to find healthy ways to deal with anger.
Is anger an unhealthy emotion?
Yes, anger is an unhealthy emotion – at least, the more aggressive kind. More specifically, it can be classed as a distortion, a distorted way of thinking or reacting about a specific situation.
Rage and fury is unhealthy because it may feel the right thing to do in the moment (a emotional impulse) however anger can negatively affect others around you, especially if your anger channels into violence.
Is anger healthy or unhealthy?
Being angry all the time is bad for you, therefore it is unhealthy.
If all the world leaders couldn’t control their anger, we’d all be in a nuclear winter.
Because of that, they have developed coping strategies on how to approach their anger when it arises, and you can too!
Learn more how anger affects people in different ways
Is it healthy to let out anger?
Only if it is healthy ways to deal with anger.
When we think of ‘aggression’ or ‘anger’ and what it means, typically we can imagine someone turning red, become a ‘hothead’ and smash and break things.
However, there is also passive aggression and healthy forms of anger which do not have significant consequences, and may arguably help the situation. These are healthy ways to deal with anger.
Healthy ways to deal with anger examples
Here are some ways that can be considered:
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- Playing music that reflects how you feel
- Doing vigorous exercise (especially working from home)
- Desiring but not demanding success
- Study intensely on a subject you love even if you’re depressed or anxious
Learn more on how to tame your anger
Unhealthy ways to express anger
- Becoming psychically violent or even having homicidal thoughts
- Making rigid demands and thinking how the world should be in a distorted way
- Demanding people do not get in the way of what you want – in an extreme sense
Unhealthy ways to respond to anger
- Sulking
- Holding a grudge
- Plotting for revenge against a specific person – whatever they have done
- Taking out anger on objects, innocent people or animals
- Giving people threats or want to attack someone verbally or physically
What are three unhealthy ways to express anger?
- Clenched hands or fists
- Tense or vibrating muscles
- Shaking in rage
An example of unhealthy anger
Picture this – you’re walking across the street around where you live – where you feel content.
A passing car contains several youths and shouts or bellows a ‘insulting’ comment in effort to scare or intimidate you.
You could react in two ways, (hint – one way is detrimental and another is a more healthier approach)
Reaction 1 – Curse at those people
These people drew attention to you negatively, and you didn’t have control over the situation. You need to tell those people who’s boss right? Get revenge and flip them the ol’ fashioned middle finger, or even run after them and smash their car?!
Reaction 2 – Ignore those people
This is the most healthy option, and by far the best option that will save you mental stress, and others around you.
These people were likely just bored or were playing a silly little game with their friends. You just don’t know the context of the situation unless you ask them (which isn’t important anyway)
They may not have had a malicious intent, so why assume they do? It is better to maintain a open-minded approach and just ignore those people. You’ll probably never bump into them again, especially if you live in a big urban enviroment like a city.
Why being angry is unhealthy
When we get angry, our stress levels rise. When we get stressed, complications such as high blood pressure and even heart strain can occur if you’re older.
After your anger has subsided (not everyone can be angry forever), you’ll start to feel psychologically anxious mostly on what the consequences are for your actions involved.
Anger affects everyone around you.
Can unhealthy anger be treated?
With the right mental health services and support in place, it is possible to improve how you manage your anger.
You can also look into CBD products for calming, legal solutions which work.
List of healthy ways to express anger
The problem with unhealthy anger is that it ends up making you feel bad in the long run. You could also get yourself in serious trouble with the authorities potentially, if the unhelpful anger is kept up.
Instead, what you need to do is to be able to channel that anger into a more healthier form.
Accept Other People
Unfortunately, believe it or not – other people exist. They may walk the same land and streets as you, as well as have their own standards. Often this will conflict with your personal standards, so you’ll save yourself a lot of stress and trouble by holding a more balanced approach about others.
Make your preferences flexible
Yes, you may have had a bad day at work, sat next to someone on the train talking on their phone, all to then have your neighbor blasting music through the wall once you get back. You can change your thinking to be more flexible when these issues occur. Of course, we don’t want to experience discomforting situations but sometimes it is inevitable that they will occur. Why put yourself through all that stress in the first place?
Become more tolerant against frustration
Similar to the last point, but by becoming more tolerant to frustrating situations, you’re training yourself to think maybe these situations aren’t so bad after all.
Attend anger management classes
Anger management can permit you to develop your frustration tolerance in a safe, understanding environment. You may also consider using mental health services in your local area.
Transform the words that you’re using
It is easy to be swept up in the heat of the moment and use extreme language like ‘I am livid about this’ or ‘I will not tolerate this!’
Why not use transformative vocabulary instead? Take the pressure of yourself and your emotions. Using transformative vocabulary is a great way to change your physiological state to a more healthier one – lessening the impact of the situation.
For example, ‘I am livid about this’ to ‘I am a bit peeved by this’
