Am I Angry?

Anger is necessary. Misunderstood, like an outcast: even sadness and fear receive more acceptance. But anger? It’s an unwanted monster. We try to manage it and wish we could obliterate it. Then it shows up, all of a sudden. Someone’s unashamed transgression trips us. Absurd, unbearable.

You may react somewhat socially, deploying some sort of strangled politeness, disengaging with an unnaturally calm “OK then, good. Bye”, or anything hiding a scream of “Who the hell does this abusive «what ever» think he or she is?!!!”. We might even forget about it: we think we feel weird, worn, tired, down, or anxious. Many adults just blank out on anger. Watch out!

Anger is important because it motivates and moves you towards something that seems important. It may actually lean a wrongdoer towards paying attention to you, or signal a need to address some hierarchical maladaptation. If shunted every time, anger will build up and explode or somatize. If recognized and expressed adequately, anger may give us focus, drive and even a strange sensation that we suddenly control our lives. It's true then, getting angry can give you a kick and also become a bad habit.

We may conjecture that current complex societal hegemonic power structures align very well with the hiding, shaming and tabooing of anger. Some say it only hides other emotions, or that it is a sing of innapropiate earthly desires. But we sometimes cannot just breathe it out. If avoided, anger may become unmanageable and unproductive: a point when it defeats it's whole purpose. But when channeled correctly, it surfaces direction, social change and personal growth.