PSA: Anger is Normal

Anger is a normal human emotion. It is an important emotion. It signals that something is going on that we are not okay with, a boundary has been violated, and it provides the energy to do something about it.

The reason I point this out is that a lot of folks think that anger is bad or to be avoided. This is a completely understandable reaction if a person has grown up in an abusive or toxic home, because they have seen the ways in which anger can get out of control.

But there is a range and a spectrum of ways in which anger can be expressed. The things I hear the most when people talk about anger is yelling, screaming, swearing, hitting and throwing things. But none of those things need to be a part of anger expression. It can simply be stating, “I’m angry.” It might simply be that we set a limit and say ‘no.’ Anger does not have to be big and loud; it can be quiet.

There is no one right way to express anger. It will depend on the situation and what triggered the anger. It will depend on the person you are interacting with and the relationship you have.

So, let me repeat one last time, anger is a normal and natural human emotion. It is perfectly okay and normal to feel angry. It is not healthy to deny or suppress anger, nor is it healthy to wallow in it and be chronically angry.