The Nature of Anger • It is accompanied by physiological and biological changes. • Can be caused by both external and internal events. • You can be angry at a specific person (such as co-worker or supervisor) or event (a traffic jam, a cancelled flight), or your anger could be caused by worrying or brooding about your personal problems. Memories or traumatic or enraging events can also trigger angry feelings. Research shows that anger and hostility can increase people’s chances of developing coronary heart disease, and lead to worse outcomes in people who already have the heart disease. Anger can also lead to stress-related problems including insomnia, digestive problems, and headaches. Anger can also contribute to violent and risky behaviors, including drug and alcohol use. And on top of all that, anger can significantly damage relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Expressing Anger • The instinctive, natural way to express anger is to respond aggressively. • Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats. It inspires powerful, often aggressive feelings and behaviors, which allow us to fight and defend ourselves when we are attacked. A certain amount of anger, therefore, is necessary for our survival. • We cannot physically lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys us; laws, social norms, and common sense place limits on how far our anger can take us. • People use variety of both conscious and unconscious processes to deal with their angry feelings. • The three main approaches are Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for the Security Sector According to Charles Spielberger, PhD, anger is an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage. 1. Expressing 2. Suppressing 3. Calming Expressing your angry feelings in an assertive, not aggressive manner, is the healthiest way to express anger. Anger can be suppressed, and then converted or redirected. This happens when you hold in your anger, stop thinking about it, and focus on something positive. The aim is to inhibit or suppress your anger and convert it into more constructive behavior. The danger in this type of response is that if it is not allowed outward expression, your anger can turn inward on yourself. 24