Emotional regulation is a key reason why a lot of people seek therapy; emotions can be exceptionally powerful and destructive, and no emotion is more of both than anger.
The feeling of anger is so elemental that it is almost difficult to describe, but that surging feeling of rage is something everyone has felt at one time or another, and it can often set off somewhat impulsive actions.
As with many psychological concerns, emotions such as anger are not necessarily problematic but they can manifest in harmful ways that affect yourself and other people, whether it leads to impulsive acts of rage or even violence, or is suppressed in a way that affects long-term health.
However, anger is also an incredible motivator, with a Texas A&M study finding that people who have been angered perform better at difficult tasks than people with neutral feelings, although it also notes that a big reason for this is persistence.
Anger is a huge motivator, particularly when channelled into a long-term response to an injustice or defeat in a competition where it can be used as a catalyst for long-term beneficial changes
The first and most important step is to ask why you are feeling angry. Anger is impulsive and can often cause reactions targeted at the wrong people. The idiom “don’t shoot the messenger” is key here; make sure you are clear about why you are angry and where that anger should be targeted.
Once you know where the problem is, see if there are any aspects of it you can realistically change, and evaluate whether those changes would provide the platform to boost your life.
It could be leaving a job which is proving harmful to your emotional health, or a bad living situation that is more trouble than it is worth.
Finally, channelling the energy that comes from anger into a physical task helps to not only release anger but also boost other parts of your life. Many people channel their anger into fitness, that can ultimately improve mental and physical health in the process.
