Anger is a basic human emotion, and feeling angry is OK. It is how we respond to and express anger that can cause problems in our life.

Anger is an emotion that is experienced in differing degrees by everyone. Anger can range from mild annoyance and frustration, to intense rage – which can lead to explosive outbursts. Anger can lead to a range of overt behaviours such as criticising, yelling, throwing objects, or hitting something. At extreme levels, anger can lead to acts of violence and abuse such as pushing, grabbing, or hitting someone. Anger can also often mask other hidden feelings such as anxiety, hurt, or sadness, and can be accompanied by less overt behaviours such as ignoring someone or becoming withdrawn.

There are a number of factors that contribute to our levels of anger and how we express this emotion. These factors typically include what we learned about showing and expressing anger, or any emotion for that matter, while growing up. Furthermore, life stressors can increase our likelihood of becoming angry, and drugs and alcohol can reduce our ability to control our aggression.