Is anger a bad or good emotion? Well, that depends. One of the basic emotions inherent in all people is an integral part of being human.
What Is Anger?
That intense emotion you usually feel when something doesn’t go as planned is known as anger. Displeasure, annoyable, and hostility are just some of the ‘ingredients’ of the reaction pattern.
What Are Common Signs of Anger?
Whatever the reason, recognizing anger signs is essential to effective anger management. When it comes to the physical signs of the emotion under study, they usually include increased heart rate, headache, dizziness, sweating, stomachache, trembling, etc. At the same time, you may notice that emotionally you’re feeling depressed, sad, anxious, stressed, and irritated while wanting to get out of the situation.
Anger Test
Why Students Feel Angry
Considering how challenging college time is, many things tend to provoke anger in undergrads of all academic levels. Based on the “Anger Provoking Reasons on High School and University Students” research, “the most anger provocative situations for the students are “being treated injustice,” “attacking to their personality,” and “being criticized unfairly.” The provocative events also include personal factors (undergrads with less resiliency, low self-esteem, and motivation are more prone to anger), family issues (family abuse, conflict, and divorce contribute to anger in students), and social factors (social media influence, peer and professor relationships, academic failures, etc.).
How to Define Anger?
To recognize anger, we recommend answering the following questions:
- “What things, events, or people make me angry?”
- “How do I know if I’m angry?”
- “What’s my first reaction when I am angry?”
- “Does my anger affect others? How?”
What Are the Four Stages of Anger?
There are four main stages of anger:
- The buildup. It is the foundation for the emotional reaction called anger. All the factors that stand behind the buildup explain why exactly you’re angry. They typically include low self-esteem, illnesses, previous experiences, worries, etc.
- The spark. External or internal, the spark is something that fuels an anger outburst.
- The explosion. The actual display of anger in the physical or/and verbal form.
- The aftermath. The stage includes choosing the right problem-solving methods to deal with the harm done during the explosion stage.
What to Do If I’m Angry?
First and foremost, think before you speak! Share your thoughts and express your feelings only when you calm down. Take some deep breaths. Admit you’re angry. Take a time-out. Finally, use humor to calm the situation and benefit from relaxation techniques, such as meditation and visualization, to free yourself from inner conflict.
Why Do I Get Angry So Easily?
At times, a certain mental condition might stand behind the fact that your emotions erupt instantly. While there’s nothing wrong with rare manifestations of anger, its frequent outbursts can be related to anxiety and depression. However, only your doctor can make a proper decision in this case.
Please, note that the test above does not portray reality. It is not designed to make a diagnosis. At the same time, you’re welcome to use it as a self-screening tool if you notice signs indicating problems with anger. If you happen to look for pro consulting in the future, you may use the test results as one of the causes for your concern. As mentioned above, only professionals can make a definitive diagnosis.
Ensure to answer the following questions honestly, picking the option that best describes your typical behavior or most possible reaction in this or that situation.
