Anger isn’t all bad. Getting in touch with the themes of your anger can help you channel and express it in non-destructive (and even productive) ways. Anger management classes may be missing this point.
Yet we’re often so scared of anger. When we watch it we see how destructive it can be. It’s so powerful, but dangerous. Unpredictable as well.
The other side of anger is how we internalize it and let it morph into self-hatred.
I believe there are other ways to manage or have access to this emotion. It’s actually a pretty important emotion and one that bears more exploring. Let me know if you agree at GoodTherapy.org. I’m a Topic Expert over there and my latest article is called The Misunderstood Emotion: Getting to Know Your Anger.
Justin Lioi, LCSW is a men’s mental health and relationship expert. He is a Brooklyn therapist (as well as also seeing clients online throughout New York State and internationally.) He received his degree from New York University and has been working with men and their families for over 10 years. Justin is on the Board of the National Association of Social Workers and writes a weekly column for the Good Men Project called Unmasking Masculinity. He can be found on local and national podcasts talking about assertiveness, anger, self-compassion, all with the goal of becoming the man you want to be.