Is Anger Really Ever Necessary?

By Kathy Garber

The answer is yes.

Anger is a natural response to threats. It allows us to fight and defend ourselves when we are being attacked, however the problem with angry behavior is that most times we use anger when we “think” we are being attacked without really taking the time to evaluate if we need to feel angry or if we are simply experiencing another emotion such as fear and surprise.

If you are in a dangerous situation, anger could save your life. However, if you use anger to handle every situation that arises in your life; anger could ruin your life.

Taking one brief second to ask yourself, “Am I in danger or am I experiencing another emotion?” could be the difference in acting out in rage or keeping your behavior under your own control.

Anger can also produce powerful changes that can benefit everyone in our society. Look at the prominent people in our history who felt passionately about an issue and provoked many changes that have changed the world and our lives today. Anger makes people speak out against injustices and moves groups of people to work together for a common good. Anger can make change happen IF it is used appropriately and without aggression and violence.

How could anger be used positively in your life? Are you in a dead end job or in a bad situation in your life and every day you make yourself miserable and angry just because you allow yourself to be there? Take that anger and make a move. Let the anger propel you out of a miserable situation into a positive place.

If you can’t go it alone, visit AngerManagementOnline.com and join a supportive learning environment and meet others like yourself looking for a better way to express their anger.