Navigating Anger and Finding Inner Peace
My view of anger is that it is intricately tied to the functioning of the brain, particularly the dynamic interplay between the logical prefrontal cortex and the primal limbic system. When triggered, the logical control of the prefrontal cortex gives way, allowing blood flow to shift towards the more instinctual limbic system. This neurological shift results in a loss of conscious control, occasionally leading to outward expressions of anger. You may act out your anger in fits of rage which can be scary to others around you or detrimental to the relationships in your life. It is almost impossible to communicate effectively with someone who has anger problems and lot's of the time if you ask an angry person why they got so angry they can't tell you as it wasn't done consciously it was an unconscious process.
These subconscious bouts of anger always come from a trigger, be that external from the world or people around them or from within via unpleasant thoughts via self hatred, guilt or shame. In most cases though the most common issue is underlying fears that are being triggered causing the person to have a need to control the external to prevent those fears becoming reality however the external world can't be controlled so the individual most of the time can't get the outcome they want causing the overwhelm mentioned above.
So how do people tend to deal with anger? Well there are three ways that most people deal with this:
Suppression - As with most emotional issues there are lots of vices that people resort to as to avoid feeling their feelings and anger is no different, if you are distracted from the anger provoking situation then it can't manifest. But is this a healthy way of dealing with the problems in your life or is this potentially adding to the issues that cause anger by not dealing with the real issues and procrastinating on them?
Expression - This is what was mentioned above, the person takes out their emotions on those around them which of course isn't good for anyone involved. A quick note on alcohol, have you ever known people or perhaps even yourself who when they are sober they are friendly, and seem to be a very nice person but when they drink a little to much they completely switch and it is like the old story of Jekell and Hyde where the person unleashes all of this anger and you just think "where did that come from?" This is very common and people tend to think it is the alcohol itself which is the issue but I believe that it is something within that is the real cause, which is repressed emotions especially anger.
Repression - As touched on above repression is usually the go to option for 'nice people' people who want to do the right thing, who don't like conflict, or have trouble saying no to people, who basically are living a life for the expectations of others rather doing what is right for them. So these people tend to put on a happy face but underneath there is all this energy screaming out wanting to be released and for the person to live more authentically. In some cases the subconscious mind can actually step in with pain or illness to distract the individual from the underlying issues that have repressed. I recommend to anyone who is experiencing pain that they feel might be associated to repressed anger to look into TMS 'tension myoneural syndrome' where the unconscious mind starves muscles and nerves of oxygen which creates pain in areas around the body.
In my perspective, anger is not solely a negative emotion but can be viewed as a powerful catalyst for change if used appropriately in the right scenarios . If controlled It serves as a signal that something in life is frustrating and needs attention or alteration. The surge of energy associated with anger can propel individuals to address challenges, make necessary changes, and even spark the creation of new and positive aspects in their lives. This positive interpretation positions anger as a driving force for personal and situational transformation.
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I can help you to remove the emotional triggers to be calm even in situations which cause anger to arise by processing this anger out and help you direct frustration into making change and improving your life.