Feeling angry

Is the anger you’re feeling really about the “thing” that triggered it or is there something bigger going on with our state of mind or other issues in our lives?  Understanding the root of our anger can help us figure out how to best cope with it.

We all have bad days, and there’s always the chance that the people who contributed to our anger are actually going through something themselves. Often, being supportive and understanding works better than lashing out.

Acting on anger in the moment rarely leads to a good outcome, but sometimes it’s hard to see that when we’re dealing with intense feelings. Think about a past reaction that led to negative consequences and how can you avoid that outcome now. Or remember a time when you dealt with anger constructively, leading to a positive outcome. Can that approach help you deal with current feelings?

We often have no control over what makes us angry. But regardless of the source of our anger, it’s important to develop ways of coping. Other times, we need to make positive changes in our lives and routines to lessen or prevent situations that contribute to our anger. Learn about coping skills here.

If you’re feeling angry more frequently, or reactions to that anger are impacting your quality of life, it’s important to reach out for help. Anger can be a symptom of mental health conditions like depression or anxiety disorders that are best managed with the support of a mental health professional. Learn more about these conditions here.