Anxiety is the feeling that you experience when you are experiencing a threat, whether it is real or just perceived. Anger is the sensation that arises when you can’t resolve the danger at hand. These two responses are deeply ingrained in every living being, and ultimately, they help sustain life. The presence of anger is often overlooked when discussing anxiety, but learning helpful tools to neutralize and lower this unpleasant result of anxiousness can be extremely helpful. In an article provided by PsychologyToday, David Hanscom MD dissects anger, and how to get a grasp on it.
The three main components that are analyzed here are output, your nervous system, and input. Your “output’ refers to your body’s neurochemical state. The ideal point to have your output at would be in a range that is neutral or relaxed, but anger is inevitable. As a human being, you are going to experience anger, but be careful to not direct this emotion into destructive behaviors by lashing out at those around you.
The state of your nervous system is greatly affected by prior programming, current circumstances, and how you are caring for your body itself. If you are sleeping less and your diet is unhealthy, your levels of inflammation will rise and it will compromise your coping skills. Daily stress can be overwhelming, and if your personal prior programming involves a difficult childhood, this can also add difficulty feeling safe, because you never knew what that was like.
There are two categories of input. These include “What are you choosing to put into your nervous system?” as well as “What are you holding onto from the past?”. The first step here is understanding your own personal input. Ask yourself what are the nature and effects of your ongoing input are. Once you gain some clarity, there are several strategies to change it. Keep in mind that this is a deeply personal process, and it takes time.
Your body’s chemistry looks a very specific way when you are angry. Your whole body, including your brain, is full of inflammatory markers. Your brain’s blood supply is diverted from your neocortex (thinking centers) to the lower centers that are meant mainly for basic survival. When you reach this state, thinking clearly or absorbing new information becomes impossible. Your output then becomes hypervigilant, which is the result of being trapped.
Anger is a powerful emotion. In fact, it is a huge component in the healing process. However, when you are angry as a coping mechanism to not experience the vulnerability of sadness, it can become toxic fast. This can cause you to lash out at others, and push those who are close to you away. Use anger as a tool when processing trauma, not a defense mechanism.
Overall, when anxiety is exasperated, anger is the body’s last-ditch effort at gaining control. Anger involves every cell in your body, and it is an inevitable feeling. Develop a “working relationship” with anger by understanding all the complex components of it, and learning to calm yourself by minimizing your time in a threatened state. Learn the best soothing techniques for yourself, and lower your reactivity. This will allow you to be able to feel anger healthily while staying rational and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships.