This article is part of All the Rage, an editorial package that digs into the science of anger.
SELF will be publishing new articles for this series all week.Read more here.
I was standing at a bus stop when someone bumped into me, knocking my bag off my shoulder.
Amrita Marino
Almost immediately, I felt my jaw tighten as I waited for them to apologize.
When I turned around, I saw that the careless jerk was actually a dog.
My anger turned to amusement, watching this fluffy, 150-pound Newfoundland trotting alongside his owner.
But that doesnt mean its always productive.
Other times, fiery emotions can be misdirected and harmfulto yourself or anyone within a 50-foot radius.
It can also mask other emotions like sadness, fear, or jealousy.
Anger can be a validating emotion because it makes us feel powerful.
Your body feels out of control too.
As a result, the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
It might feel like wanting to crawl out of your skin, Dr. Fedrick says.
Or you might experience stomach pain, tightness in your chest, or a faster heartbeat,researchshows.
What people dont often realize is that anger is amanifestation of anxiety, she adds.
Your internal monologue is full of negative thoughts.
Thats why paying attention to what youre thinking when your rage bubbles up can be helpful.
Why am I so stupid?
), Dr. Fedrick says thats a sign that your fiery feelings may be signaling an underlying issue.
Youre getting fired up at work.
(Or a demanding job may be taking its tollirritability is one of the commonsymptoms of burnout.)
Your anger is infrequent but explosive.
The problem with that strategy is that it can lead to misdirected anger down the road.
Typically, suppressing anger only works for so long because of the rebound effect, Dr. Robbins explains.
Maybe you feel unnerved about your overwhelming job or yourdysfunctional relationship, or maybe youre struggling withdisordered eating.
Youre showing other signs of depression.
Remember, anger doesnt have to look like yelling or breaking things to disrupt your quality of life.
Your personal relationships are suffering.
Luckily, there are quite a few resources that can make the process less intimidating.
Its never too soon to get the help you need.
