Anger & Rage

The storm before the calm

Depression is a serious, yet treatable mental health disorder that can affect any man, no matter how keen his sense of direction or burly his mustache. While depression is often associated with sadness and hopelessness, it often manifests itself in fits of rage, unnecessary risk taking and alcohol or drug abuse in men.

What to look out for

Physical

Pounding heart
Muscle tension
Accelerated heartbeat
Changes in breathing
Body trembles
Goosebumps
Flushed face
Clenched fists

Emotional

Loss of control over trivial issues
Violent impulses
Inability to face reality
Jealousy and resentfulness
Low frustration tolerance
Unreasonable expectations
Suicidal tendencies
Melancholy and depression
Dominating behavior

Causes

Anger is often caused by how men think and interpret situations. The following are four types of thinking that can cause irrational anger.

Emotional Reasoning - “ People who reason emotionally are prone to confusing their own feelings with fact. Because of this, they'll interpret an innocent conversation or event as an attack on them. This can lead to misplaced anger.

Low Frustration Tolerance - “ Many things can cause frustration tolerance to lower. It can be stress. It can be fatigue. It can be the mother of all hangovers. Regardless of the cause, a low frustration tolerance can lead us to interpreting normal things as threats to our well-being or ego.

Unreasonable Expectations - “ Men with unreasonable expectations expect the world to act how they want it to. If a person, or even an uncontrollable event, behaves differently than what's expected, it's easy for frustration and anger to set in.

People-Rating - “ People-rating is something we all do on occasion. When we label our boss an asshole or our brother-in-law an idiot, we are actually de-humanizing them and making it easier to get pissed off at them.

Anger & The Brain

When you get angry, your brain triggers the release of cortisol, adrenaline and catecholamine into your blood stream. These chemicals give your heart the boost it needs to get you through dangerous situations. The effect of anger on the brain shares a similar intoxicating quality to methamphetamines. And like meth, if experienced too often anger can become addicting.

What can I do

Rage is dangerous. Not only could you damage property or explode on another person, you are also a hazard to yourself. And I'm not just talking about bloody knuckles and black eyes. Excessive anger has been shown to raise blood pressure and even cause heart attacks.

If you believe that you are dealing with dysfunctional anger, it's important that you seek professional help. A therapist will likely work with you to determine the source of your anger and provide you with behavioral techniques you can use to disarm the rage before you explode like a stick of dynamite.

Connecting with a resource near you is a good place to start