Anger: Causes and Corrections

In the last month I have lost my temper three times. Greater than lost: I was belligerent, bellicose, bombastic, confrontational, contentious, combative. What’s going on here? I considered this list:

  • Gunny sacking—chronic suppressed anger that accumulates for a long period of time culminating into explosive angry outbursts.
  • Fear—road rage is a good example. A car pulls dangerously in front of you causing unconscious fear that is expressed as anger. Of course there are other causes of road rage: Type A personality, a competitive nature, frustration at traffic, or maybe you are  simply a jerk. 
  • There are other causes of fear anger. You may be afraid that you are inadequate or you are threatened in some way. 
  • You are thinned skinned—criticism from others or fear of criticism.
  • You were raised by parents who abused you or served as an anger model.
  • You have a genetic predisposition for anger.
  • People that are difficult for you to get along with.
  • Remembering that your teachers told you not to dangle participles.
  • Bipolar disorder—an excess of chemicals in your brain.
  • Depression—a depletion of certain chemicals in your brain.
  • Drugs or alcohol
  • Narcissistic, or borderline personality disorder
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder
  • Hypersensitivity to rejection
  • Brain tumor
  • Perfectionism and failure to live up to your expectations
  • Dementia as in Alzheimer’s disease. Although half of individuals with dementia have Alzheimer’s, there are approximately 70 other diseases that can cause dementia. 
  • Fear of abandonment by family or friends.
  • Politicians and other absurd people.
  • Resentment toward friends or family. 
  • Family or economic stress
  • Burn-out or work overload
I hope my anger was generated by overwork. Although I am semiretired and work only of Tuesdays and Wednesdays my hours are long—sometimes 12 hours, then there are numerous patient and family calls, plus I am getting old and can’t work as hard as I used to. There are other contributors to my angry outbursts. I’ll let you guess which ones. Please don’t guess Alzheimer’s.
What to do about anger:
  • Determine the cause of your anger and do something about it.
  • Knowing your tendencies and watching for them.
  • Practicing meditation, yoga or other like calming methods.
  • Exercising—vigorously.
  • Rest and relaxation
  • A vacation
  • Forgiveness of others and self
  • Cosmic humor—not taking yourself so seriously and laughing at yourself and your mistakes. 
  • Treating yourself with kindness.
  • Empathy and being kind to others
  • Avoiding jerks
  • Walking away.
  • Counting to 10.
  • Mood stabilizers or other appropriate medications
  • Bible study
  • Prayer

I better begin working on these techniques. Anger is no fun. It makes enemies. And rather than reliving stress it engenders guilt, frustration, self-loathing and a bunch of other negative feelings. 

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