Anger doesn’t have to mean yelling or throwing punches. Yet, this emotion can injure your relationships, interfere with your work or even harm your physical and mental health. Whether you’re an adult struggling with anger or your child is overly aggressive, private counseling for anger can teach you healthy techniques for controlling this powerful emotion. At Merrimack Valley Psychological Associates in Andover, we can coach you or your child on how to address anger and find a peaceful balance.
What Is Anger?
Anger is a basic human emotion. Along with happiness, fear and disgust, anger is rooted in survival instincts and tied to the fight or flight response as it gets you ready to fight. Anger can range in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage. However, this emotion is often misunderstood, especially in young people. Children who seem overly aggressive may be showcasing distress. When something becomes too much to handle, aggression may become their go-to reaction. Unleashing anger may feel good, but the more you practice this emotion, the more deeply it gets reinforced. This gives way to excessive anger, which is unpredictable and destructive, often leading to problems at work or in your personal life.
Suffering From Excessive Anger? Speak with our Team at (978) 482–7351
How Anger Can Manifest Itself
Anger manifests itself in a variety of ways, including:
- Passive-aggressive behaviors. This could include withholding affection or doing something you know upsets someone.
- Sarcasm. Sarcasm involves using humor to cut another person down.
- Cold anger. This could include the “silent treatment” or withdrawing from intimacy.
- Hostility. Hostility could mean raising your voice or showing signs of frustration.
- Aggression. This is what you may usually think of when you picture anger and can include acting out physically, yelling, name-calling or cursing.
Inward vs. Outward Anger
Outward anger is aggression directed at another person, circumstance or thing. Inward anger, on the other hand, is intense negativity directed toward yourself. Inward anger includes:
- Self-hatred.
- Self-criticism.
- Viewing oneself as pathetic or powerless.
- Self-injury.
Usually, inward anger stems from a traumatic experience in your past. This could include an assault or physical, verbal or sexual abuse. At Merrimack Valley Psychological Associates, our team works with many teenagers and even adults who engage in self-harm to release pent-up inward anger. They view self-harm as a way to regain control after experiencing a particularly disturbing event. Our team of therapists is equipped to provide counseling for inward-directed and outward-directed anger.
How to Control Anger
If you’re struggling with anger, it’s important to learn how to deal with it before it gets out of control and turns destructive. There are many techniques you can try to help control feelings of aggression, including:
- Changing your environment.
- Meditation or prayer.
- Calming and breathing techniques.
- A long walk.
- Exercise.
- Problem-solving.
- Better communication.
- Humor.
If You Struggle to Control Anger, Talk to A Licensed Counselor
When to Seek Out Anger Management Counseling
If your anger feels out of control or is impacting your close relationships or other important parts of your life, professional counseling for anger may your best solution. Counseling helps both adults and children learn healthy techniques to address anger without suppressing it. Anger management and counseling for aggression also allows you to find inner peace free from the tumultuous feelings of anger.
Learn More About Therapy for Anger at Merrimack Valley Psychological Associates
If you live in Andover or the surrounding communities, our young and highly trained team wants to help you learn coping skills to deal with anger. From acts of rage to self-harm, we understand how destructive anger can be. Contact us today to learn more about anger management and self-injury counseling. Or, give us a call at (978) 482–7351.
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Reviewed By
Dr. David Rainen, PsyD.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with an extensive background treating a variety of different ages, situations, emotional and mental health disorders in individuals and their families. As part of my 10 year professional and training career in psychology, I have developed and refined my skills and approaches through my work in a variety of diverse settings including: hospitals, community outpatient facilities, college counseling centers, secure and unsecure inpatient/residential treatment programs, and therapeutic day schools.