Anger can be caused by many different things. It can be due to feeling upset, sad, low, stressed, tired, hungry or pain. It can also be due to feeling undervalued, misunderstood, threatened or out of control.
Anger can be caused by external factors that are out of our control (e.g. inconsiderate driving), or internal factors which are our own thoughts, feelings and beliefs (e.g. ‘I’m not being heard’).
When we are angry we have negative thoughts (e.g. ‘I’m not being heard’), negative emotions (e.g. anger or guilt), physical reactions (e.g. shaking and racing heart) and negative behaviour (e.g. shouting or withdrawing from others). These factors affect each other and keep the vicious cycle of anger going.
Anger can be a symptom of depression, especially in men.
Anger is a learned behaviour that can be changed.
