Anger

Foggy forest landscape with trees

Healthy Anger

You are:

➔ present

➔ proportionally reacting to a boundary violation

➔ using the emotion as a guide to maintain your identity and independence

➔ proud afterwards

Unhealthy Anger

You are:

➔ ‘gone’ - body/brain is ‘in the past’

➔ reacting to ‘nothing big’ upon reflection

➔ left feeling shame and guilt about what was said and/or done

Both are valid and full of info and anger will enter your system and will always be a part of you.

It’s important to:

1) Breathe:

through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth

2) Name it:

“I am so f*ckin angry right now!”

3) Process it:

Clench your fists, flex your chest and shoulder muscles, clench your jaw...

4) Acknowledge and appreciate it:

I notice this feeling will come, stay and go, and it is important.

5) Check in with your SELF:

Is this healthy or unhealthy anger?

Both types of anger are SO important, but the action and/or conversation is very different!

Healthy Anger =

clarifying a healthy boundary: ‘It is not okay that you...’ & stating a clear result action: if this continues, I’ll have to...


Unhealthy Anger =

acknowledging to yourself you are not ‘here’: ‘whoa! I’m not present...’ & being curious and compassionate to that part of you: ‘I don’t know what triggered that, but I know it makes sense’ & sharing with others: ‘you didn’t do anything wrong but when you talk like that... I’m gone because of…(past)’.