Understanding Anger:

8 Types of Anger to Recognize to Manage It Better

This month, I've chosen to explore anger, to help you better understand it, and feel less overwhelmed by it (yours... and others').

Especially at a time of year when we're spending more time together, and tensions can sometimes arise. It's important for me to preserve the quality of your relationship (I'm inserting a kiss here.)

As you know, anger can be expressed in many different ways:

It can explode, frighten, be persistent or, on the contrary, remain silent.

I’ve identified 8 types of anger, or rather, 8 deep-rooted reasons that can trigger it.I explore them in depth in my French podcast (with English subtitles – link below).

Here’s a brief overview of the 8 types of anger:

1. Anger as a defense of your values
It arises when something important to you is not respected.

2. Anger as a defense of your identity
It helps you stand up for yourself… and be respected.

3. Anger from emotional overload
Unspoken or repressed emotions that eventually burst out.

4. Frustration-based anger
It appears when there’s a gap between what you want… and what you manage to do or get. → Resistance to reality.

5. Habitual anger
A reactive pattern that becomes automatic, sometimes unconscious.
Grumbling, irritability…

6. Anger by contamination or social empathy
Shared anger that creates a sense of belonging, but can affect you unnecessarily.

7. Anger as an attempt to regain control
Often masking a fear of helplessness or losing grip.

8. Anger as an emotional shield
A form of protection: it’s sometimes easier to feel angry than to feel sadness, shame, or guilt.

Just recognizing these patterns can already change your relationship with this emotion.

It can help you to:
 

– soothe your own anger,
– avoid reacting to others',
– better understand what's going on inside you,
– set healthy boundaries,
– and know in which direction to grow.

Because among these 8 types, only two are truly constructive:
The first and the second. Anger that defends your values, and anger that protects your integrity.

The others are signals : They call on you to develop your ability to manage your emotions, your self-esteem and your self-respect.

 Episodes 32 and 33 of my podcast “3 minutes to change everything”  take a closer look at this emotion to help you understand it better and stop letting it take over.

Click here to listen (in French, with English subtitles):
Episode 32
Episode 33  (released on Tuesday July 22nd) 

Becoming aware of the nature of your anger is already a step toward more clarity, calm, and self-respect.

I hope this exploration helps you look differently at what you feel… or what others express.

I wish you a beautiful summer,

Stephanie