What Are Signs of Anger Issues?
When someone regularly gets angry or feels their temper boil over to the point that it impacts on their life, relationships and even their health or safety – it could be an indicator of anger issues. Although it’s not uncommon for everyone to get angry occasionally, it’s when these feelings start to affect your daily life that you might need to look at anger management techniques and treatment options.
There are many signs of anger issues and they vary from person to person. Some of them are obvious, such as outward aggression and violence. This can be damaging to friendships, work, and family relationships, and can have serious legal consequences. Other anger issues include passive aggression, such as avoiding people and refusing to participate in activities. This type of anger may also be accompanied by irritability and chronic short-temperedness. Finally, some people can turn their anger inwards, such as self-harm and denying themselves food or exercise. This type of anger is more difficult to spot, but it can be equally as dangerous as aggressive outbursts.
Often, a person’s anger can be triggered by something that has happened in their past and it is easy to see why they might feel disproportionately angry about a current event. However, it’s just as possible that they simply have a lower tolerance for frustration and annoyance than others and this makes them more likely to react negatively.
Some people are genuinely more hotheaded than others and they have a higher capacity to become angry. This is not necessarily a negative thing, but it can be frustrating for those around them. Easily angered individuals often have what psychologists call a low frustration tolerance and they are unable to cope with minor inconveniences or irritations. They can react to them in a very disproportionate way and sometimes feel angry about things that are not at all worth their attention.
People with anger problems often lack a sense of control over their emotions and they have difficulty expressing their feelings in healthy ways. Getting help is the best option for those who feel their anger is out of control. A qualified psychiatrist or counselor can teach a variety of techniques for dealing with anger and helping you change the negative thinking patterns that fuel it.
Anger issues can be caused by a number of different factors, both internal and external. Some of these include mental instability, depression or alcoholism, while others are associated with financial or professional problems, abuse and stressful social or family situations. It is also possible that anger issues are genetic and run in families. In addition, certain medications can cause or worsen anger-related behaviours. Finally, not getting enough sleep can exacerbate negative thoughts and lead to an inability to manage anger effectively. The good news is that there are many treatments available for those who struggle with anger issues, and they can be effective both in the short-term and the long-term. Anger management therapy can be combined with other treatment options, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This involves identifying and changing the unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to anger.
