Anger

Description

A basic human emotion that can range from mild irritation to rage.

Overview

Anger is a common and natural emotion. It's often a response to something seen as a threat. Anger can be triggered by anything from feeling that an effort isn't appreciated to global injustice. People have distinct anger triggers based on their personal history and what they were taught to expect from themselves, others and the world.

Symptoms

When you get angry, your body reacts. It releases stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which can make your muscles tense up, cause your heart to beat faster and raise your blood pressure. Your thoughts about what made you angry may become exaggerated, blown out of proportion or irrational. People differ in how they express anger.

Treatment

Anger becomes a problem when people don't deal with it in a healthy way. To ease anger, clearly, directly and respectfully voice concerns and needs. Channeling anger into constructive behavior can help. Use relaxation and other calming techniques to manage feelings of anger. If anger becomes hard to manage or hurts relationships, seek therapy.