Is suppressing anger a good thing?

“Suppressing your emotions, whether it’s anger, sadness, grief or frustration, can lead to physical stress on your body. The effect is the same, even if the core emotion differs,” says provisional clinical psychologist Victoria Tarratt. “We know that it can affect blood pressure, memory and self-esteem.”

Is it wrong to express anger?

Research overwhelmingly indicates that feeling angry increases optimism, creativity, effective performance—and research suggests that expressing anger can lead to more successful negotiations, in life or on the job. In fact, repressing anger can actually hurt you. A healthy society is not an anger-free society.

What happens when you hold back your anger?

In fact, a study by the University of Massachusetts found as few as 10 percent of angry people “act out” in a clearly aggressive manner. People who hold in angry feelings show it in other ways, such as being overly critical and cynical or feeling depressed and victimized.

What is a healthy expression of anger?

Healthy anger is expressed with little or no vindictiveness. It is not about being vengeful, having power or hurting another (verbally or physically). Perhaps the clearest indicator that your anger is healthy is if it leaves you feeling OK about yourself and the other person once expressed.

What is a good outlet for anger?

Relaxation techniques or mindfulness often work for lower intensity anger like frustration or annoyance, but with a feeling as high energy as rage, try to let that energy out in a safe way. Throw or break something (safely). Physically throwing something can relieve stress and be helpful in the immediate moment.

What are good anger outlets?

10 Healthy Ways to Release Rage

• Throw or break something (safely). via GIPHY.
• Scream – in private. via GIPHY.
• Sing it out. via GIPHY.
• Dance it out. via GIPHY.
• Do a tough workout. via GIPHY.
• Journal. via GIPHY.
• Draw or paint. via GIPHY.
• Change your surroundings. via GIPHY.

Is expressing anger better than holding it in?

It’s Healthier to Let it Out than Hold it in As uncomfortable as it is when people erupt into angry outbursts, it is actually better to express anger than it is to ignore it. Holding anger inside without expressing it will not make your anger go away. Instead, suppressed anger will make itself known in other ways.

What are three unhealthy ways to express anger?

The three unhealthy ways to deal with anger are an outward way, inward expression, and passive-aggressive.

What is suppressed anger?

Anger suppression refers to the frequency with which angry feelings are experienced but not expressed (Spielberger, 1999).