Home Mental Health AnxietyAnger and Anxiety

Anger and Anxiety

10 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

Fact checked

CONTENTS

Each of us experiences anger and anxiety every day. As the human race evolves it seems these feelings are becoming more frequent. Here we discuss why that is the case and what we can do about it.

Two sentiments are intimately linked to each other — and survival — in the rich and varied panoply of human emotions. Anxiety is the anxiety or fear you experience when you perceive a threat. Anger is a dangerous response as well, but it is accompanied by a strong sense of aggravation. These two emotions, according to researchers, may play a key role in our ability to detect and react to danger. Anger is a natural, albeit occasionally unwelcome or unreasonable, feeling that everyone goes through at some point in their lives. Anger was discovered to be present in 7.8% of the population of the United States. Men and younger adults were more likely to be angry, and it was associated with poor psychosocial functioning.

Anger has evolved as a strategy of surviving and shielding yourself from what is regarded as wrongdoing, according to anger experts. Mild anger can be triggered by feelings of exhaustion, stress, or irritability; in fact, we are more prone to become upset if our basic human needs (food, shelter, sex, sleep, and so on) are not supplied or are jeopardized in some manner. When faced with irritation, criticism, or a threat, we may feel enraged, which isn’t always a bad or improper emotion.

Other people’s views, attitudes, and actions might irritate us, and as a result, anger can impair our capacity to communicate effectively, making us more inclined to say or do things that are unreasonable or nonsensical. Being irrational or unreasonable might make others around us feel threatened, resentful, or furious. Anger can also be a “secondary emotion” to sadness, fear, threat, or loneliness. It is beneficial to try to understand why you (or someone else) are furious at any given time to address the root causes and solve problems. Anger, on the other hand, isn’t only a state of mind. Anger can cause physical changes such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of hormones like adrenaline, which prepare us for a fight or flight situation.

Can Anxiety Cause Chest Pain?

Long-term anger can be harmful to one’s health and well-being because of these physical impacts.

Anxiety is the body’s normal reaction to stress. It’s a sense of dread or trepidation over what’s to come. Most people are afraid and frightened on the first day of school, at a job interview, or when giving a speech. However, if your anxiety is severe, lasts more than six months, and interferes with your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder. Moving to a new location, starting a new career, or taking an exam can all be stressful. Although this form of worry is unpleasant, it may inspire you to work harder and achieve greater results. Ordinary anxiety is a passing mood that does not interfere with your day-to-day activities. Fear may be there all of the time if you suffer from an anxiety disorder. It’s a lot of work, and it may be exhausting at times. This form of worry may force you to give up activities that you enjoy. It may even prohibit you from taking an elevator, crossing the street, or leaving your house in extreme circumstances.

Anxiety will continue to worsen if not handled.

Anxiety disorders are the most frequent type of emotional disorder, affecting people of all ages. According to large community-based surveys, anxiety problems affect up to 33.7 percent of the population. To a considerable extent, these disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated.

According to research, the prevalence of anxiety disorders has remained constant in recent years. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Anxiety disorders have a long-term course, however, the prevalence of anxiety disorders naturally declines as people get older.

You’re likely to encounter the following symptoms when you’re nervous or angry:

a fast heartbeat, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, tension headaches, chest tightness, clenched or tight muscles, and rush of heat

How do Anger and Anxiety relate to one another?

Anxiety and rage have a lot of ground to cover. Both emotions release powerful hormones into your circulation, which induce physical discomfort. Both can be caused by commonplace events And your mental habits can help or hurt you in both cases. Here’s what we know about the relationship between rage and anxiety. It’s a part of being human. Everyone becomes enraged.

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. In truth, there are instances when worry is reasonable and rage is a valid response – one that can result in significant improvements.

Anxiety and fury may seem to be the new normal during times of increased stress and tension when issues in your personal life are compounded by events in the larger world. Physiological symptoms are the same When you’re furious or worried, your body produces hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare you to fight or run. Anxiety and rage have been linked by psychologists to a loss of control. In other words, you may become apprehensive when confronted with a stressor that you believe you are unprepared to handle. Anxiety can rapidly turn into wrath if you feel even more threatened.

In both cases, an external stimulation puts your sense of safety and control over your surroundings in jeopardy. Anger could simply be a chemically enhanced kind of anxiety. Anger, according to some psychologists, is at the basis of worry: people who haven’t learned how to vent anger constructively may have long periods of anxiety.

Anger and anxiety that are out of control can be hazardous to your mental and physical health. Anger, for example, is higher in anxiety and depression disorders, according to research. According to other studies, excessive worry and anger might lead to Lung disorders such as aggravated asthma, headaches, heart illness, Fatigue, high blood pressure, and insomnia

Anger can be a sign of a variety of problems. If you have a lot of rages or can’t control it, you should look at the following conditions:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

People who suffer from anxiety may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and as a result, they may be sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation can cause people to become more sensitive to minor issues and, as a result, more prone to rage. Small triggers such as yelling at the dog for barking, being enraged in traffic, becoming agitated because of a long wait at the grocery store, or lashing out over an honest mistake can all snowball into massive issues for someone suffering from anxiety and sleep deprivation.

Performance Anxiety Symptoms and Treatment

Anger does not have to be deliberate, and for those with anxiety disorders, it is frequently a natural reaction to an unpleasant trigger or the effects of long-term anxiety. Because the fear of the unknown is often a trigger for anxiety, people with anxiety disorders are generally strict in their daily routines. When their daily pattern is disrupted, it is normal for them to be unable to cope with the change and, as a result, lash out in fury. Anxiety can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including a racing heart, shortness of breath, clammy skin, and racing thoughts. It can also manifest itself in more subtle ways, such as anger or impatience. Undiagnosed anxiety sufferers may find themselves lashing out and growing angry over minor incidents that do not normally elicit an emotional response.

A good illustration of this is road rage. Anxiety is typically triggered by traffic and crowds, which can lead to being enraged with other drivers. Maybe they’ll be late for work, or they’ll be in a terrible mood, or they’ll be facing a tough deadline. Sitting in traffic simply adds to their frustration. As a result, some folks lash out at other vehicles when they are worried about their stressful environment and personal problems.

Giving in to rage can destroy relationships and have negative consequences in many areas of one’s life. It can cause rage, impulsive decisions, and unsafe behavior. Individuals’ fight or flight responses kick in when they are threatened, and they move into defense mode, which might include fighting. Not all anger is linked to anxiety, but if people take a step back and figure out what makes them angry, they may notice indicators of fear and panic, which could be the start of an anxiety disorder.

If your anger and anxiety feel out of control, or if others tell you that the way you handle them causes difficulties, it’s time to seek treatment. Anxiety and rage are a dangerous mix. Getting assistance for an anxiety illness can help a person figure out why they’re so angry. Keeping a journal and reflecting on why an individual became angry can frequently help people recognize their anxiety triggers and seek treatment to develop healthy strategies to cope with them. Consider seeking help from a mental health professional if you believe your anger is out of control and badly hurting your life or relationships. A mental health expert can help you figure out if you have an underlying mental health problem that needs to be addressed. One or more of the following strategies can be used to moderate anger: Strategies for relaxing, Behavioral treatment, deep breathing, positive self-talk, or stopping your angry thoughts when you’re angry.

Deeply inhale via your diaphragm. Repeat a soothing word or phrase slowly, such as “relax” or “take it easy.” Repeat it to yourself while taking deep breaths until your anger dissipates. Avoid consuming alcohol or illegal drugs, which can make you more likely to act rashly on angry feelings. If you’ve been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or ADHD, you may be prescribed antidepressants.

Anger management classes, which can be attended in person, over the phone, or online, as well as anger management exercises at home support groups are available. Although expressing anger is preferable to holding it in, it must be done properly. Anger outbursts are typically unhelpful and lead to problems in interpersonal interactions. Anger outbursts are taxing to your nervous and cardiovascular systems, and they can exacerbate health issues. Learning to express your feelings, wants, and preferences through assertiveness is a healthy way to go. In certain cases, assertiveness can be substituted for anger. Look for other people’s help. Discuss your feelings and make an effort to alter your habits. If you’re having problems recognizing when you’re experiencing angry thoughts, keep track of them and try to figure out what prompts them. Put yourself in the shoes of someone else to obtain a different viewpoint. Learn to laugh at yourself and look for the funny in everyday events.

Develop your ability to listen. Listening can help people communicate more effectively and build trust. This trust can assist you in coping with possibly unpleasant feelings. Learn to establish yourself by expressing your emotions calmly and directly rather than becoming defensive, aggressive, or emotionally charged. To learn how to employ assertiveness and anger management skills, consult self-help literature on the subject or get advice from a professional therapist.

Many people find Swedish massage therapy to be a soothing and pleasant experience. It’s also been shown to help with anxiety and anger. Swedish massage therapy sessions were given to 100 women diagnosed with cancer in a recent study. During and after the training, the women reported fewer symptoms of all mood disorders, including anger and anxiety, according to the researchers.CBT is based on the idea that you may be suffering from harmful thought patterns that are exacerbating your anger and anxiety.

Working with a CBT-trained therapist might help you figure out what makes you feel anxious or angry. You can also develop the ability to recognize thoughts that distort your perception of reality. You can learn to reframe your thoughts to help you manage your anger and anxiety once you’ve identified them.CBT is particularly successful for treating chronic anxiety and anger difficulties, according to research.

FAQs

Is Anger an Anxiety Symptom?

Anger is typically a symptom, as it is the expression of judging another feeling to be too painful to confront.”

Is it true that anxiety can make a person irritable?

Excessive irritability is common among patients with anxiety problems. Anxiety problems and irritability have a direct link, according to a 2015 research of adolescents in the United States.
Young and middle-aged persons with a generalized anxiety disorder reported more than twice as much irritation in their daily lives than self-described worriers.

When is the best time to get help?

We all have normal and acceptable anxiety systems, but when it starts to affect their quality of life, career, or relationships, you need to take action“

HOW THE BALANCE CAN HELP WITH Anxiety

The Balance RehabClinic is a leading provider of luxury addiction and mental health treatment for affluent individuals and their families, offering a blend of innovative science and holistic methods with unparalleled individualised care.

Anger and Anxiety

How do Anger and Anxiety relate to one another?