The Health Risks Of Rage

Often times, people incorrectly assume that having an anger outburst can be somewhat therapeutic (it’s what the trendy “Rage Rooms” are built upon, after all). The truth of the matter though, is that uncontrollable fits are actually damaging to the body; particularly for seniors and people of a more advanced age.

This latest research happens to have the backing of the American Psychological Association (also known as the APA), which published a new study comparing anger with sadness among older Americans. Their findings showed that crying and depression outbursts were actually less harmful to the body than rage.

The science actually goes back to inflammation and the immune responses to exhausting fits of anger. As we get older, rage triggers can cause real tissue damage (especially if they’re a regular occurrence), leading to heart disease, arthritis and even cancer.

The APA looked at over 220 older adults, ranging in age from 59-93, for the study. Taken over the course of a week, they discovered that daily anger outbursts led to increased inflammation. Those who had crying spells or experienced sadness did not see these types of damaging results.

Concordia University’s Meaghan A. Barlow, who led the study, spoke with the press about the results. She was quick to point out that anger can serve a positive purpose for some, perhaps leading to motivation. But as we age, it can have dangerous consequences.

“Anger becomes problematic for adults once they reach their senior years,” Barlow explained. “Because that is when many experience irreversible losses and some of life’s pleasures fall out of reach.”

Barlow was specifically referencing the increased hardships that occur as we get older. Losing a spouse, for example, or perhaps getting a difficult health diagnosis. For some, this can create feelings of depression or sadness. But for many, they can be rage triggers, eliciting anger over the “Why me?” scenario.

We have also known that chronic rage fits have a long-lasting impact on the body. Ulcers, for example, are often rooted in anxious or angry feelings. And let’s not forget the physical consequences of an upsetting episode. Often times, people who blow their top tend to get into fights or injure themselves by punching a fist through a wall.

The best solution is to get to the root of the rage. No anger episode will really solve the underlying problem. Our advice is to seek out help and avoid harmful physical ailments; especially as you begin to enter your golden years.

Naming Your Anger

If you’ve read some of our previous blogs, then you’re aware that rage and anger management are topics we like to discuss from time to time. We do offer regular support in those areas and are always curious to see what developments are occurring within that spectrum. Well recently, NPR brought forth a new technique to help people calm their stressors. And this one involves giving your anger a name.

Truth be told, rage can come in many different forms. It can be rooted in regret or self loathing. It can also be a snap instance (as evidenced with the anger people experience on the road). There, of course, is political rage and mad feelings that stem from grief. NPR and Yale psychologist Maria Gendron believe that by categorizing these types of emotions, you can better understand them and potentially overcome them.

“There’s definitely emerging evidence that just the act of putting a label on your feelings is a really powerful tool for regulation,” Gendron told the site. “It can keep the anger from overwhelming you. It can offer clues about what to do in response to the anger. And sometimes, it can make the anger go away.”

The technical term for this practice is emotional granularity, as in specifying each anger variation into its own separate category. NPR revealed that recent studies show this practice to be rather successful. In fact, people who tend who operate in this manner are less likely to shout or turn violent against someone who has hurt them.

Site writer Michaeleen Doucleff helped break it down into further detail.

“Being granular with you anger helps you figure out what’s the best way to handle the situation — or whether you should do anything at all,” she wrote. “For instance, if you are feeling a quick burst of anger, which you know will fade rapidly, then maybe doing nothing is the best strategy.”

The article then went even further, broadly labeling  major anger variations. The first one called out was illogical anger, which is built upon the frustration you experience when those around you make bad decisions. Another was hurry-up anger, which was compared to issues you experience on the road (such as slow drivers or traffic jams). Compartmentalizing those two issues alone can help you take a step back and understand the roots of your frustration.

Obviously, everyone will have their own versions of anger that impact their daily lives. But perhaps pausing and separating yourself from the any type of ‘rage snap‘ can help you lessen the blow.

Is Rage A Sign Of Depression?

 

On the surface, aligning rage and depression seems a bit counterintuitive. Someone who is angry is perceived to behave differently than someone who is clinically depressed. But look a little deeper and you may start to see an interesting connection. This happens to be a point that was recently brought up by NPR and one that we think merits further investigation.

 

Writer Nell Greenfield Boyce pretty much summed up the same statement in the beginning of her article.

 

“Many people — including physicians — associate depression with feelings of hopelessness, sadness and a lack of motivation or concentration, but not anger,” she writes. “And even if you pick up what is often called the ‘bible of psychiatry,’ the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, you’ll find that the list of core symptoms for major depression doesn’t include anger. But irritability — a reduced control over one’s temper that results in angry outbursts — is listed as a core symptom of depression.”

 

Noted Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Maurizio Fava also contributed to the piece and shed some light into why there has been such a disconnect all these years. He explained that when he was trained in the subject, the common thought was that anger is projected inward during depression. In essence, depressed people are angry at themselves and not others.

 

But more recent case studies examined by Dr. Fava have educated him otherwise. In fact, he found that people prone to outbursts share many of the same traits as “depressed” or “anxious” people going through a panic attack. He aligned anger attacks in the same vein and actually saw some success when people prone to rage were treated with antidepressants.

 

And on the flip side, more recent studies have shown that those diagnosed with depression do experience angry emotions on a regular basis.

 

“A recent large study looked at more than 500 people who had been diagnosed with major depression,” Greenfield Boyce added. “It found that more than half showed overt irritability/anger, and that this anger and irritability appeared to be associated with more severe, chronic depression.”

 

Ultimately, these all fall under the category of mental health. Whether you’re consistently angry or sad (or possibly both), it is important to not just zero in on certain emotions. At Inneractions, we specialize in treating co-occurring disorders and believe that healing truly begins when you look at the bigger picture.

 

‘Rage Rooms’ Are Gaining Notoriety

inneractions group therapy room

We have talked about rage many times before in our blog series. And, in our opinion, properly sorting through these emotions should involve trained professionals and supportive counselors. In some instances, pillows or soft items can be used as an outlet or a way of physical expression. But in several cities across the country, a much more extreme approach is gaining notoriety.

We are talking about Rage Rooms, which literally give people a sledgehammer and let them live out their most destructive fantasies. These are not professionally sanctioned, but appear to be gaining popularity as a “quick fix” for pent up aggression.

One of the most popular businesses to take advantage of this trend is the Smash Therapy organization, which (to us) focuses a lot more on “smash” than “therapy.” This rage room setup puts guests in a private space with metal plated walls and giant wooden tables. Tons of breakable items are then wheeled in; ranging from glassware, to electronics, tho household appliances. Then comes the baseball bats, sledgehammers and crowbars and a designated time period to unleash every angry emotion.

Steven Shortino, founder of the Smash Therapy rage room, claims his very popular business model is also quite therapeutic. People can even come in with friends and break things for “group therapy.”

“Breaking stuff makes you feel good. It gives you a sense of control,” Shortino told the New York-based outlet, WBFO. “I think a lot of people just come here to have fun. You don’t have to be some kind of crazy mad stress psycho. It’s just normal people looking to have a good time.”

He emphasized that sessions are closely monitored and several safety measures are put in place to ensure guests don’t injure themselves. But more legitimate orgs, like Psychology Today, are less than thrilled with the concept. Dr. Kevin Bennett, a writer for the site, told WBFO that these types of experiences can have harmful side effects.

“At the moment it can feel good and there’s an immediate satisfaction,” Dr. Bennett explained. “There’s chemicals in the brain being released and so it does feel good at the moment, but when you go to a rage room it’s quite possible that you’re conditioning yourself to be more aggressive the next time you feel those.”

We too have to side with Dr. Bennett in this matter. Though we appreciate new explorations in treating rage, encouraging destructive behavior may not be the right way to approach it. If you or someone you are close is suffering from anger issues, try reaching out to a trained professional.

Controlling Political Rage

With November being an election month, we figured now would be an opportune time to discuss the very real anger issues that emerge concerning politics. Whichever way you lean, there are bound to be measures (and figureheads) who upset you. Seeing how we are also approaching the holidays, there may be points of sensitivity around this topic that could easily erupt over a family dinner. So what is the best way to cope? You can try by following the some of the steps below…

The Tab.com did a nice job of breaking out coping mechanisms when it comes to political rage. Speaking with anger management expert Mike Fisher, the site outlines simple tricks to diffuse a tense situations (no matter which party you side with).

Tip #1: Look At The Big Picture

Though causes and ideologies are most certainly important, it is helpful to take a step back and ponder whether a political argument is really worth your time. Just like any rage coping skill, Fisher recommends taking deep breaths. Know that the person you are disagreeing with may be set in their ways and (as long as their stance isn’t hateful or violent), it may be best not to add fuel to the fire.

Tip #2: Let People Finish Their Thoughts

Arguments can quickly ensue when interruptions begin or a sense of “disrespect” emerges while someone is expressing their opinions. If the person speaking is saying something you disagree with, let them at least finish their statement before offering a counterpoint. By cutting them off or speaking over them, you may be setting yourself for an unnecessary fit of rage.

Tip #3: Agree To Disagree

Let’s face it; there are moments when you simply cannot change a person’s political views. Though you may feel you have all of the facts and are justified in your argument, it is important, at times, to just let things go. Coping mechanisms here can include simply shifting the conversation to a more neutral topic or walking away. “At the end of the day, all opinions are exactly that,” Fisher explains in the article. “They’re not facts or gospels, they’re human, subjective views.”

Though we know political discussions don’t always lend themselves to these easy resolutions, trying (whenever possible) to escape angry conversations is always the best bet. We have many more coping mechanisms when it comes to rage and political discourse and would be happy to share them before any explosive situations occur.

Coping With A Rageaholic

 

Often times, we write about people who are dealing with anger issues and the ways that they can find resolutions. But what if the “rageaholic,” isn’t you per se, but rather a spouse, friend or family member? Suffering on the sidelines is no easy task and there are certainly techniques to cope with that role as well. Psych Central, in fact, outlined some helpful tips for anyone who’s close to a person exhibiting extreme anger.

 

The first key point that they identified was Not To Get Sucked In To The Drama. Rageaholics often feed off of negative reactions to their behavior. If a loved one is trying to provoke you into a yelling match or crying spell, do your best to turn the other way. Matching their behavior with similar emotions will do neither of you any good and could cause greater damage to the relationship.

 

Another tip is for loved ones to Prepare Themselves for unexpected outbursts. If possible, try to rehearse scenarios in your head before you expect a fit of rage. If there is a sensitive subject, know how to respond in a calm and eloquent manner. The key here is to never be caught off guard. Calmer resolutions can help diffuse an angry situation.

 

If the rageholic is a spouse or significant other, Psych Central fully endorses the concept of Walking Away From The Relationship. This is especially poignant if the other half has resorted to some type of violence. “Certain relationships just aren’t worth struggling to keep,” article writer Tamara Hill explained. “Some people are born toxic and years of therapy may not reduce their toxicity. In cases such as this where verbal, physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual abuse is likely to occur, leave.”

 

Knowing Thyself is another key point singled out in the article. This leads into the concept of self-care and therapy. Yes the rageaholic needs to get help, but (truth be told) so do you. It can be a tremendous emotional strain to have a loved one with anger issues and if you’re not finding an outlet for yourself, there could be negative consequences. Take some time away, talk to a professional and work on yourself as well.

 

In total, Hill outlined 10 important points worth sharing. We definitely encourage our readers to click over to her article. And always know, that the Inneractions team is available for people with anger issues AND their loved ones.

 

Exposing Female Rage

Clearly rage is an emotion that can affect anyone, regardless of gender. But when it comes to media, articles and representation to the public at large, men typically serve as the poster children of this anger-filled emotion. Well thankfully a few outlets are working to change that perception, speaking out to women and letting them know that this is an issue that impacts them too. The female-focused site Elle.com helped address this point, singling out an important new book and the groundbreaking HBO series, Sharp Objects.

Sharp Objects is certainly the most high-profile project to expose female rage. The dark drama touches upon troubled childhoods, difficult parent relationships and how many women choose to cope with their anger issues.

“Sharp Objects is a topography of female rage,” Elle writer EJ Dickson posted in her article. “It shows both where it can come from, and what paths it can take when it inevitably bursts through the dam.”

Granted Objects is an over-the-top crime drama, complete with murders, self-harm and explosive moments. Real life female rage doesn’t get quite as graphic as that, but through its characters, viewers can see examples of broad coping mechanisms. Star Amy Adams plays a woman named Camille, who can be described as an “imploder.” Her way of dealing with rage and anger includes self-destruction; be it alcohol, promiscuous sex or cutting herself.

Other players in the series, such as Camille’s mother and sister, manifest their rage in more obvious ways; choosing to harm others (examples of the “exploder” model). Truth be told, the entire series is quite an interesting rage character study and one that the Elle piece does a fine job of  breaking down.

One other “female rage” noisemaker mentioned in the article is author Soraya Chemaly. Her upcoming book chronicles the topic wholeheartedly and should (hopefully) get a lot of people talking. It is entitled Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger and it hits Amazon this week.

“Anger is like water,” Chemaly told Elle. “No matter how hard a person tries to dam, divert, or deny it, it will find a way, usually along the path of least resistance.”

Chemaly’s advice is for women to acknowledge all of the challenges and upsetting issues that may have to face throughout their personal and professional lives. In her opinion, rage is an important emotion. But it is one that should be addressed and discussed. We certainly agree with all of these sentiments and continue to have an open door for any and all women who are experiencing feelings of extreme anger and having a hard time expressing them.

Coping With Anger On The Job

A meeting gone wrong. A frustrating co-worker. A missed promotion. These are just a few of the things that can set a person off in corporate America. And truth be told, anger on the job is much more common than people realize. In fact, it is becoming so frequent that the employment site Business Insider wrote an entire feature article devoted to the topic. Emphasizing that these feelings were “very normal” (which we agree with), the mag offered some helpful coping mechanisms and warning indicators illustrating when to seek professional help.

Temple University professor Deanna Geddes was featured in the piece and shared some basic facts that she commonly addresses with her business students.

“Anger is a healthy emotion,” Geddes explained in the Business Insider article. “It signals that something is upsetting us. When we feel anger, it’s helpful to stop and think about what’s really making us angry.”

The BI piece went on to list de-stressing tactics for the workplace. The fist involves removing yourself from a toxic situation. When meetings get tense or you’re having a difficult moment with your boss, it is okay to walk away. Geddes emphasized that exiting gracefully is completely acceptable in the corporate world and cannot be held against you. Simply excuse yourself and perhaps take a walk in the lobby or outside to cool off.

Another tip is to avoid words like “never” or “always.” The article makes a big point to reframe your thoughts and distance yourself from “exaggerated” or “overly dramatic” ruminations. If a bad thing happens at work, it’s easy to go into a spiral and believe the whole day is shot. But that is certainly not the case. BI writer Rachel Premack advises to take a step back and compartmentalize the upsetting moments.

Premack also recommends discussing your frustrations without pointing blame. This could be with the person who upset you or even with a human resources representative. The key is not to bottle up angry emotions inside. You definitely have a right to be heard and many times, your emotions are correct. If there is anger because a co-worker may have taken credit for your work, for example, try and explain it in a calm and straightforward manner (vs. being aggressive). It may not always lead to a perfect resolution, but it can help take away the accusatory and heated feelings.

Of course, work anger can also be the root of deeper rage issues. And that is perfectly normal too. If some of the recommendations above still feel like they’re not solving the problem, our advice is to speak with a counselor and sort through the deeper emotions.

The Roots Of Road Rage

Anger issues are something many of us have to deal with (and can seek out support for). But why do they rear their ugly heads so frequently when we are behind the wheel? Psychology Today writer Steve Albrecht wrote an insightful piece that delved into that topic and the roots of urban road rage.

For those of us in Los Angeles, tempers can flare at a rapid pace. Car travel is a major part of the SoCal experience and with crowded freeways and distracted drivers continually interrupting our commutes, it’s understandable that frustrations can occur. But what is it that can turn “calm people” into rage-aholics?

Albrecht traces it to a need for control. Believe it or not, we can become quite possessive of our driving space; be it a freeway lane or a block within our neighborhood. If another driver interrupts that flow, it can feel like a violation.

Those who suffer from deeper anger issues, however, can experience severe triggers by violations such as these. If you are battling buried rage emotions, a rude gesture on the road can kick off a vicious spiral. And that’s when things really get dangerous.

These situations are the types that lead to violence, arrests and even death. We have all seen the news stories about an angry driver chasing down a “violator,” then smashing their car, beating them up, or even pulling a weapon. Police are often called to these incidents as well, with serious felony charges enacted on road rage aggressors.

Albrecht goes on to share relaxation exercises that people can practice in their car when a potential trigger occurs. His advice includes stress breathing (slowly counting to four, then doing deep exhales), playing relaxing music from your radio and simply continuing to focus on your own car and your own commute.

The bottom line is, these incidents are not personal. The other motorists do not know who you are, nor do they have any vendetta against you. Truth be told, they are simply bad drivers who, more than likely, will pay the price for their inconsiderations later down the road (via a ticket or potential accident). The key is to be grateful that you escaped a close call without any major injury.

“Perspective is the important part of road rage prevention,” Albrecht concluded. “You are you. The other driver is the other driver. Only you can let someone ruin your day or push your hot buttons. Focus on being ‘relentlessly positive,’  and realize you can’t control, coerce, or fix other people. You can only manage you. Practice kindness, starting with you first.”

Identifying The Signs Of Rage Disorder

We all experiences angry moments in everyday life, but at what point does it go beyond that? When does frustration turn to rage and when does “rage” become a problem that requires professional help? The website Romper.com did a nice job categorizing the warning signs of rage disorder into six identifiable traits. Certainly there is more that goes into anger analysis than this (deeper therapy discussions, psychiatric evaluations), but they are some good first steps and we are happy to share them below…

Sign #1: You Can’t Control When You Get Angry

The buzzword most closely associated with this trait is “unmanageability.” If the frustration levels continually overheat and simple inconveniences always seem to set you off, consider this a definitive warning sign of rage.

Sign #2: Guilt After Anger

Remorse is a big part of anger management. Embarrassment is a common trait as well. Having guilty feelings after an outburst can often mean that it was unjustified and probably something out of your control. Rather than experience the shame, seek out help after an temper explosion.

Sign #3: Unhealthy Anger Outlets

This is where things can start to get dangerous. If your frustration levels are leading you to turn to substances or self-harm as a soothing mechanism, there is a real problem at hand.

Sign #4: Continuous Frustration

Romper likened this signal to the term Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). In this scenario, you may find yourself constantly volatile and generally unhappy. There is an extremist attitude of “nothing goes my way,” which can lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts.

Sign #5: Forgetting What Happened During A State Of Rage

Think of this like the “blackout” moments that occur when some drinks or uses too much. Yes, rage can most certainly lead to lost memories because of being too caught up in the moment. If you can’t remember what set you off or how you behaved, your anger is at a very unhealthy stage.

Sign #6: Violence

One of the most dangerous warning signs of them all. If your fits of rage lead to fights, breaking objects or the abuse of the loved one, getting immediate help is essential. No upsetting moment merits harming another person. This could also lead to fines, arrests and serious jail time.

Our advice is to peruse these warning signs carefully and if any (or all) pertain to you, reach out to a trained professional who can help you cope and conquer your demons.

  If you’ve been following our blogs, then you may recall our piece a few weeks back about films that are offering inspiration for addiction survivors. Well for every ying there is a yang, and this week there are a handful of movies being called out for just the opposite. Over on Netflix, two films in particular have been singled out for being insensitive about the topic of mental illness.   Interestingly, the two movies in question happen to be the most popular offerings on the platform right now. Bird Box stars Oscar winner Sandra Bullock and received roughly 45 million views over this holiday month. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (the other film in question) has been dominating social media as well, but both cover very dark subject matter.   Bird Box has been criticized for “demonizing” mental illness. The plot concerns invisible monsters who encourage victims to take their own lives. That alone is a very touchy subject and it has been said that the way these suicides are handled leave a lot to be desired. What’s worse though, is that people suffering from mental illness become the villains in this movie and actually contribute to the killings.   The website Popbuzz did an admirable job of summarizing the Twitter backlash (posted below).       Black Mirror isn’t faring much better with fans. The website The Mighty focused on that film, saying the plot features insensitive call outs to psychosis, delusions, paranoia and trauma (not to mention lots of blood and gore).   Though the Black Mirror backlash isn’t quite as intense as the Sandra Bullock movie, site writer Elizabeth Cassidy did mention that a warning should be issued before viewers click “Play.” And to her point…Despite the fact that these may be “trendy” films of the moment, you have every right to turn them away and encourage others to do the same.   “It’s OK to skip Bandersnatch if you’re sensitive to these topics,” Cassidy wrote. “Your health and safety are more important than the latest trendy show or movie. If you want to watch the movie but are concerned it might be too much, try watching it with someone you trust.”