Identifying anger as a natural response
If you are prone to violent outbursts, or often worry that your anger may be affecting your family life and career, you’ve undoubtedly had moments where you’ve asked yourself “what’s wrong with me?” When others seem so in control of themselves, no matter how much pressure they’re under, it’s easy to question the cause for this apparent shortcoming.
One of the first things you must understand about anger is that it’s an entirely natural emotion – in fact, it is an ingrained aspect of our genetic makeup. But, as Dr. Pavel Somov recently noted in a piece for PsychCentral, many of the threats that this response has helped mankind overcome – saber tooth tigers, for example – have since disappeared. In their place, we’ve been left with less tangible anxieties and fears that this visceral reaction may not address as effectively.
“Anger is the flip side of the fear coin, the “fight” part of the flight-or-fight self-defense system,” writes Dr. Somov, adding that “when faced with real threats, anger is a legitimate self-defense solution.”
However, in an age where “as a species, we are safer than ever,” Dr. Somov notes that this emotion can be spurred by phantom threats – anything that may conceivably disrupt our lives.
Do you find that you grow increasingly aggressive when something in your life is about to change? Or that your anxiety often leads you to lash out at coworkers, family and friends? This may just mean that your inherent reaction to perceived danger has kicked into overdrive.
Just because anger is a natural response, that doesn’t mean you can continually allow your rage to get the best of you. By taking anger management classes, you can learn to identify your negative emotions for what they are, and develop techniques to address them. Our online anger management courses allow you to do so at your own pace.
Dr. Carlos Todd PhD LCMHC specializes in anger management, family conflict resolution, marital and premarital conflict resolution. His extensive knowledge in the field of anger management may enable you to use his tested methods to deal with your anger issues.
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