Anger is just another emotion along with happiness, sadness, fear and anxiety. So how do you answer the question “do I have an anger problem?”
I work with clients who have anger problems frequently (but not like this).
The people I see in my counselling practice in Cheadle are mostly men who are finding the behaviour that they carry out when they feel angry is seriously impacting their lives.
So how do you know if you have an anger problem? Here’s a few pointers that might indicate anger management might be useful for you.
Your anger results in violence
This is going to get you or someone else hurt.
You could lose your job, friends, family and everything you care about and you could wind up in jail. It’s a no brainer – get help, you can change this.
Your anger is having an affect on your relationships
If your anger is having an affect on your relationships then it’s a great indicator you might need to get support.
Anger can be useful to provide boundaries and help you change difficult situations but if it’s pushing the people you love away then it’s time to get help.
Are your nearest and dearest scared of you? Do they tiptoe around you?
These are not features of a healthy relationship and if you want these people to be around in a few years time you need to change your behaviour towards them.
You get angry when you’re drunk
Anger and alcohol are very poor bedfellows.
If you notice your angry incidents happen when you have had a drink or two then it’s time to do something about it.
Get help with your anger and cut down on your booze before your anger gets you seriously hurt or seriously in trouble.
Your anger is passive
Are you the king (or queen) of the sulk?
Do people know that you are angry without you saying a word?
Passive aggression is where you take your anger inwards and rather than screaming and shouting you strop around the place making sure everyone is in no doubt that you are mightily pissed off.
In many ways passive aggression can be worse than direct expression of anger.
It usually lasts for longer and can have a very destabilising impact on those poor individuals around the aggressor.
