TAMING THE BEAST

Recognising and managing your anger can make for a happier and healthier you

- JO HARTLEY

IN THE spectrum of human emotions, anger stands out as one of the most powerful and complex feelings. It can bubble up in times of frustration, simmer away when we’re feeling stressed and surge up in moments when we feel we’ve been wronged.

We all feel angry from time to time. It’s a natural and sometimes necessary emotion. But when it rears its head too often it can have a big impact on our wellbeing and our relationships.

Tuning into our anger, understanding it and learning to manage it can help reduce its impact.

HARNESSING THE POWER OF ANGER

Anger is often seen as a negative emotion. However, this is not always the case.

“Anger is an inbuilt part of our system that alerts us to a possible injustice or wrongdoing that needs to be addressed,” says Australian psychologist Dan Auerbach.

“Anger signals us to action and is one of our most powerful motivators for change. When we feel angry about a social or political issue, for example, we may be more likely to take action to address it.”

Australian psychotherapist and trauma and addiction specialist Diane Young agrees, noting that anger is a healthy emotion and one which, when used appropriately, gives us strength. It allows us to speak up for ourselves, those we love and those who don’t have a voice.

“Appropriate anger allows us to stay in touch with our own sense of worth and to be true to ourselves and our beliefs,” she says. “When utilised properly, anger can be used to effect change and can be a game-changer in our personal and professional lives.”

EXPRESSING ANGER

Anger differs from person to person, and our relationship with it often stems from our upbringing.