How Can I Tell If I Have Anger Issues?

Updated on 10/4/2021

While it’s a completely normal reaction, anger can become a problem when left uncontrolled. Admitting that you may have anger issues is often difficult, especially when you can’t identify the problem yourself — often a difficult task. So, how can you tell if you have anger issues? If you feel like you experience frustration, stress, or irritability on a regular basis, an underlying anger problem may be the culprit.

To learn more about common anger symptoms, keep reading below.

What Is Anger?

Anger is a complex emotion that is expressed in a variety of ways and for many different reasons. To make it easier to understand, experts usually refer to three expressions of anger: passive, aggressive, and assertive anger.

Passive aggression

Open aggression

Open aggression is a sharp contrast to passive-aggressive anger, as it’s usually expressed outwardly— mostly in a physically or verbally aggressive way. People who express outward anger often do so with the aim of hurting others or destroying things to retaliate for acts they perceived were wrongfully done to them. Open anger outbursts usually occur through bullying, blackmailing, shouting, and other similar violent behaviors. Openly aggressive behavior is also a sign that you may be dealing with a deep-rooted anger problem. Assertive anger

Dealing with angerin an assertive way means making the effort to communicate calmly, listening to the other person carefully, being patient, working through your emotions, and reaching a positive conclusion.

While this may be the best way to expresshealthy anger, it’s often difficult for many people to ignore the urge to say what’s on their mind in the heat of the moment. You may snap and say or do something hurtful to someone, and when the adrenaline rush passes, you’re faced with the guilt from your words or actions that were said and done in your anger outbursts. It’s therefore important to be able to tell when your uncontrolled anger becomes a problem for you and for others.

When Does Anger Become a Problem?Anger is a normal, healthy emotion, but when anger starts to spiral out of control and take a toll on your life or relationships, you may have anger issues. This is a common phenomenon.A 2015 studyshowed that nearly 1 in 10 US adults have impulsive anger issues, showing a tendency to lose their temper, smash and break things, or get into physical fights.Anger may have become a problem if:You’re angry most of the timeYou feel out of control or the emotion feels uncontrollable when angryYour anger is affecting your relationships negativelyYou say or do hurtful things to people when angryYou get into violent outbursts when angryAt this point, you might want to seekanger therapyto help you work through the root of your emotions.

When Does Anger Become a Problem?

Anger is a normal, healthy emotion, but when anger starts to spiral out of control and take a toll on your life or relationships, you may have anger issues. This is a common phenomenon.A 2015 studyshowed that nearly 1 in 10 US adults have impulsive anger issues, showing a tendency to lose their temper, smash and break things, or get into physical fights.

Anger may have become a problem if:

At this point, you might want to seekanger therapyto help you work through the root of your emotions.

Symptoms of Anger IssuesAngry feelings usually come with some physical and emotional symptoms, which are normal if they only occur on occasion. If you’re experiencing these angry symptoms more frequently, and to a severe degree, it may be a sign that you’re dealing with anger issues.Physical symptoms of anger issuesWhen dealing with a strong emotion like anger, your body may go through physical changes that can put your health at risk if left unaddressed. These physical symptoms include increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, a tingling sensation, muscle tension, headaches, and a tightening feeling in your chest.Emotional symptoms of anger issuesAn outward expression of anger isn’t the only indicator of anger issues. In addition, there are other emotional symptoms you may experience when dealing with anger issues, such as: constant irritability, rage, frustration, anxiety, stress, guilt, or a feeling of being overwhelmed.

Symptoms of Anger Issues

Angry feelings usually come with some physical and emotional symptoms, which are normal if they only occur on occasion. If you’re experiencing these angry symptoms more frequently, and to a severe degree, it may be a sign that you’re dealing with anger issues.

Physical symptoms of anger issues

When dealing with a strong emotion like anger, your body may go through physical changes that can put your health at risk if left unaddressed. These physical symptoms include increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, a tingling sensation, muscle tension, headaches, and a tightening feeling in your chest.

Emotional symptoms of anger issues

An outward expression of anger isn’t the only indicator of anger issues. In addition, there are other emotional symptoms you may experience when dealing with anger issues, such as: constant irritability, rage, frustration, anxiety, stress, guilt, or a feeling of being overwhelmed.

What Causes Anger Issues?Many things can cause anger issues— stress, financial issues, abuse, family strife, and more. When these situations build or combine, the anger and resentment you feel also increases, eventually culminating in anger issues.Individuals who come from a family with a history of anger issues may also be more likely to develop anger management problems. Although there’s still room for more research on the cause of anger issues, there’s some evidence that indicatesgenetic factorsmay also play a role in the way anger is expressed.Struggling solely with anger issues isn’t considered a mental health condition, but for some people, anger issues may stem from an underlying condition such asdepression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),alcoholor substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),grief, intermittent explosive disorder (IED),bipolar disorder,schizophrenia, or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).Feeling angry is not always an indicator of an underlying condition, but a licensed mental health professional can help you determine whether anger issues may be a symptom of a broader condition.

What Causes Anger Issues?

Many things can cause anger issues— stress, financial issues, abuse, family strife, and more. When these situations build or combine, the anger and resentment you feel also increases, eventually culminating in anger issues.

Individuals who come from a family with a history of anger issues may also be more likely to develop anger management problems. Although there’s still room for more research on the cause of anger issues, there’s some evidence that indicatesgenetic factorsmay also play a role in the way anger is expressed.

Struggling solely with anger issues isn’t considered a mental health condition, but for some people, anger issues may stem from an underlying condition such asdepression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),alcoholor substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),grief, intermittent explosive disorder (IED),bipolar disorder,schizophrenia, or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

Feeling angry is not always an indicator of an underlying condition, but a licensed mental health professional can help you determine whether anger issues may be a symptom of a broader condition.

How Do I Control My Anger In the Heat of the Moment?

No one wants to feel like they’re not in control of their emotions, but anger issues tend to make you feel that way. When faced with an aggravating situation, there are a number of strategies that can help you manage your anger and keep your emotions at a normal, healthy level.

Here are a few tactics to try:

Many people struggle with anger issues, and it causes harm to friendships, family relationships, and work relationships. But there are ways to cope. A mental health professional can help you figure out the cause of your anger, and develop strategies that help you deal with anger issues.

Anger Management: Getting Help For Anger Issues

Anger management is a helpful way to control anger issues, and you can acquire this skill on your own, with the help of self-help books, or via online resources. Attending anger management classes will give you a more hands-on, practical approach to dealing with anger issues, as can working with alicensed online therapistknowledgeable in anger management skills.

Anger management strategiesAnger management sessions also focus on teaching specific strategies to cope with anger, issues like:impulse controlincreased self-awarenessmeditationbreathing techniquesrelaxation strategiespersonal reflectionemotional awarenessAnger management classes can also help you trace the cause of your anger. Finding the source of your anger can go a long way in preventing future issues with your temper. Speaking with someone who has attended anger management classes in the past can also give you an idea of the best option for you, as well as what you can expect from the classes.While it may take time to find the right anger management program, you can consult your medical provider or a licensed mental health professional to refer you to a suitable program or counselor. Therapists are trained to provide techniques and strategies that can help you deal with your anger. You can also search for recommendations and resources on trusted websites with resources on anger, blogs, online support groups, and books.

Anger management strategies

Anger management sessions also focus on teaching specific strategies to cope with anger, issues like:

Anger management classes can also help you trace the cause of your anger. Finding the source of your anger can go a long way in preventing future issues with your temper. Speaking with someone who has attended anger management classes in the past can also give you an idea of the best option for you, as well as what you can expect from the classes.

While it may take time to find the right anger management program, you can consult your medical provider or a licensed mental health professional to refer you to a suitable program or counselor. Therapists are trained to provide techniques and strategies that can help you deal with your anger. You can also search for recommendations and resources on trusted websites with resources on anger, blogs, online support groups, and books.

Sources:Duke University Medical Center. Science Daily.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150408090411.htm. Published April 8, 2015. Accessed Sept. 22, 2021.J Cogn Neurosci. National Library of Medicine.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24564461/Published July 26, 2014. Accessed Sept. 22, 2021.

Sources:

Duke University Medical Center. Science Daily.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150408090411.htm. Published April 8, 2015. Accessed Sept. 22, 2021.

J Cogn Neurosci. National Library of Medicine.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24564461/Published July 26, 2014. Accessed Sept. 22, 2021.

Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

Articles contain trusted third-party sources that are either directly linked to in the text or listed at the bottom to take readers directly to the source.

Share0Tweet0Pin it0

Share0

Tweet0

Pin it0