Wednesday, September 20, 2006

What is Anger?
The Nature of Anger

Anger is "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage," according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the study of anger. Like other emotions, it is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up,(So that’s my problem) as do the levels of your energy hormones(who has any energy hormones left?), adrenaline, and nonadrenaline.
Anger can be caused by both external and internal events. You could be angry at a specific person (Such as men who think our whole Anger Management thing is all about them, they give themselves way too much credit, it isn’t) or event (having to face the same judge in traffic court today that I humiliated in the Elbow Room a few weeks ago, He wasn’t in a forgiving mood,he’s still the biggest asshole I ever met.), or your anger could be caused by worrying or brooding about your personal problems.(Hello, aren’t the problems cause by anger, caused by problems, caused by anger…..) Memories of traumatic or enraging events (again, the Judge and the B man comes to mind, not to mention a husband droping dead in my kitchen, but whose keeping track….)
Tonight we will discuss ways anger can be suppressed, and then converted or redirected. This happens when you hold in your anger, stop thinking about it, and focus on something positive. The aim is to inhibit or suppress your anger and convert it into more constructive behavior. The danger in this type of response is that if outward expression isn't allowed, your anger can turn inward—on yourself.(OH NO!!!, we can’t be angry with ourselves) Anger turned inward may cause hypertension, high blood pressure, or depression. (I think I would rather suffer the consequences and not redirect it)
So that solves that, discussion canceled, just drinking……Brillo Box, Penn Ave. Thursday @8:00.