Anger is a human emotion that many of us will be familiar with. It is often a reaction to and distraction from feeling some kind of sadness, not feeling good enough, powerlessness, shame, anxiety or isolation. Anger directed at oneself can show as self-criticism, blame and dissatisfaction.
It comes from a place of arming oneself to ‘fight’ in the sense of the ‘fight, flight or freeze response’ of the sympathetic nervous system.
However, if left unchecked or showing up too often or easily, not only can it can damage relationships with others but it can even have a detrimental effect on ones physical health over the longer term through the prolonged release of stress hormones that can destroy neurons and weaken the immune system.
Counselling can help an individual learn how to better understand and manage this powerful emotion, leading to personal growth and change.
