Anger, just like fear, sadness, and joy is one of the universal emotions. We all get angry but our ways of expressing and experiencing differ. It is also said that our style of expressing anger is influenced by the way we were exposed to anger in childhood. Once you understand your type of anger, you can work on changing it and learn to express it constructively.

What Is Anger 

Anger is an intense emotion we feel when someone has wronged us or something has gone wrong. It is typically characterized by physical arousal, thoughts about intolerance, frustration, and irritation. Not everyone expresses their anger. But it is significant even when it’s not expressed and deserves attention.

Related: How Is Anger Measured?

Types of Anger

Constant Annoyance

The type of anger where “everything annoys you”. No matter how small it is like when your computer hangs, or a minor disturbance in your train of thought. As a fleeting emotion annoyance is completely normal, but if you are constantly annoyed, then you got some thinking to do.

Chronic Irritation

Irritability is a state where your threshold for anger is very low. You tend to get angry quickly and excessively. Other people might be better judges of your irritability. Nobody likes hanging out with an irritable person.

Excessive Complaining 

If you are a complainer, you express frustration or anger about someone by venting it out to someone else. You never really confront the person you are angry with and never try to resolve any issues. 

Passive-aggressive anger

If you use sarcasm or sulk when angry, then you have a passive-aggressive style. You may even deny that you are angry when confronted. These behaviors are ignorant and do not solve any purpose. It is also difficult to understand for others.

Resentment and Grudges

Resentment is a feeling you get when you feel that you have been wronged by someone or by the world.  Grudges are the deep feelings of anger that you may hold on to against those who have hurt you. These negative feelings can have a negative impact on relationships.

Hostility, rage, or physical aggression

The expressions of hostility, rage, or physical aggression range in intensity and can easily get out of control.  Aggression is the behavior aimed at harming or hurting people or objects. Hostility is the expression of negative attitudes or beliefs about others or certain types of situations. Rage refers to uncontrolled, intense levels of anger. It is accompanied by an extremely high level of physiological arousal.

This type of anger involves yelling, insulting, and threatening gestures like pointing and clenched fists.

Physical aggression is actions against objects or people like slamming doors and throwing dishes. This type of aggression can be very scary for the person witnessing it. Assaults against persons can take the form of pushing, punching, shoving, etc.

Suppressive anger

Some people work hard to hold their anger in. It’s difficult to pick up on their anger. 

But, this type of anger also comes with physical costs, such as high blood pressure, digestive problems, and heart disease. The person often remains unhappy and tense

Effective anger

This is considered to be a constructive type of anger and can be beneficial in that it might spur people on to make positive changes in their lives. Such people keep their cool while expressing anger instead of yelling or throwing tantrums,

Summary

• If you are struggling with your anger (loudly or silently), you’re not alone. 
• Anger of any type left unresolved can be damaging to both your own mental health and your relationships. 
• Working with a therapist can help you identify what type of anger you’re feeling, and what is causing it, and teach you skills for managing anger.

References: Smith, L. L. (2022). Anger management for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.