Anger is a response to a perceived threat or pain. You can feel anger if you believe you have been treated wrongly. Anyone can feel angry from time to time, as a response to frustration, disappointment, or life’s common stressors.
In this article, we discuss the psychology behind the powerful emotion of anger and how to know your anger is out of control.
Can Good Things Arise From Anger?
Anger is a basic human emotion triggered by our fight, flight, or freeze response – meaning it is a feeling tied to survival – and your survival instinct triggers a need to defend yourself. Being a survival mechanism, it prepares you to fight.
Think about the last time you were angry. You likely experienced some of the following:
- A tightness in the chest
- Rapid heartbeat
- Feeling hot
- Clenching of your jaw
- Sweating profusely
- Tensing up of muscles
- Feeling your legs go weak
These are all physical manifestations of anger.
Fortunately, you can control what happens next. It all comes down to how you express your anger, which can be harmful to others and yourself when not handled properly.
Anger can play a vital role in our lives and can be a catalyst for change. It can motivate us to address injustices and set personal boundaries. However, when anger is left uncontrolled, it can become destructive, damaging relationships and taking a toll on your physical and mental health in the process.
Why Should You Control Anger?
While anger is a necessary reaction in some situations, uncontrollable and frequent outbursts of anger can lead to serious consequences. In children, this can affect their ability to have a healthy development and learn to work through complications and uncontrollable situations in their life.
Children with anger management issues can cause emotional distress, sever friendships and social relationships, lead to academic difficulties, and result in behavioral issues. A child’s mental health, chance for success, and physical health can be negatively impacted by anger issues.
Signs Your Child Needs Help with Anger Management
While experiencing anger is normal, certain signs indicate serious anger issues that can benefit from professional help:
- Frequent and intense tantrums
- Over-the-top reactions to difficulty
- Reports of out-of-control behavior from teachers or caregivers
- Lack of healthy friendships
- Blaming others for their problems
- Displaying self-harming or risky behavior
- Use of hurtful words when expressing anger
- Holding on to grudges
- Looking for reasons to get angry
- Experiencing shame for how they expressed their anger
- Making disruptive, public displays of anger
In many cases, anger management issues can be caused by underlying mental health issues. A mental health professional who specializes in child and adolescent behavior can help your child work through their anger through a tailored treatment program.
Anger Treatment and Management in Sherman, TX
At Carrus, we have a Child and Adolescent Behavioral Hospital that focuses on the rehabilitation of children with mental and behavioral issues. Some of the conditions we specialize in include anger, ADD/ADHD, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, depression, and trauma.
Our highly skilled team of providers include a board-certified psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, pediatrician, and licensed family therapist, who are all committed to your child’s healing and restoration to a happy and healthy life. We make sure you and your child have the tools critical for progress and are here to support you throughout your journey to wellness.
To schedule a consultation with us, call our office today at (903) 870-2600. Our friendly staff looks forward to your call.
