Anger is one of the basic human emotions, as elemental as happiness , sadness, anxiety , or disgust. These emotions are tied to basic survival and were honed over the course of human history.
How Can You Manage Anger?
Anger, like all emotions, should be monitored with self-awareness. This can prevent it from spiraling into hostile, aggressive, or violent behavior toward others or oneself.
Support groups for anger management can help people understand anger, identify its triggers, and develop skills to manage their emotions. In groups or individual settings, cognitive restructuring can coach patients to reframe unhealthy, inflammatory thoughts.
Outside of therapy , techniques from deep breathing and emotion labelling to adopting a problem-solving mindset can help people learn to navigate anger on their own.
If you are often carried away by anger, it can be helpful to understand the patterns that trigger you. It's possible to intervene at different points along the way to deal with anger effectively .
Is Anger a Mental Health Condition?
Everyone experiences anger at some point. It becomes problematic, however, when the frequency or severity of anger interferes with relationships, work performance, legal standing, or mental health.
While there is no official “anger disorder,” dysfunctional anger and aggression can be a symptom of Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder . It may also play a role in manic episodes , ADHD , and narcissism.
Anger doesn't require a formal diagnosis to be disruptive or to benefit from help with its management.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Explore More About Anger
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