Signs You Need An Anger Management Therapist

1. You're just angry

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If you're considering whether you might need to get help with your anger issues, a good place to start is to actually address how you are feeling and if you are feeling constantly angry, it's a good idea to delve into why this might be.  Perhaps your anger means that you can't feel anything else and you want to get to the bottom of your issues.

2. You often don't really have a reason to be angry

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Often when people feel in a constant state of anger, experts will agree that most of the time, a person with anger management issues doesn't really know why they're angry.  Or when they really look into what triggered their anger, a new perspective can help to most people to realize that whatever happened probably didn't warrant their anger or their response.

3. Aggression is your go-to

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When you feel anger, you might turn to aggression to let your strong emotions out, and this can affect the people around you in a negative way.  But it is important to note that not everybody with anger management issues is aggressive and anger can manifest in other ways.  But it doesn't mean that they don't still need help to deal with this powerful emotion.

4. You have explosive outbursts

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Again, everyone is an individual and anger can manifest in so many different ways.  But another common way it might come out in some people is through explosive outbursts.  These can be physical or they can be verbal, but they are characterized by their suddenness.

5. You have a history of verbal abuse

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If you have anger management issues, you might have a long history of verbal abuse, where you might insult or verbally hurt those close to you, or even strangers you've never met.  And this not only hurts people's feelings but could also offend people too, and this might've got you into altercations in the past.

6. You're not great under pressure

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You might feel your anger rising when you're placed under pressure.  Life is hectic and sometimes it can feel like you have multiple pressures all at once.  This is enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed, but for some people, it can make them begin to feel the effects of their anger and they may react in their own ways, including rising aggression, being tearful or upset.

7. Communication isn't easy

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If you have anger issues, you might find it so difficult to actually express how you're feeling to other people because you might not think they'll ever understand.  Struggling with emotions that are so individual to you can feel really isolating and you might need help from a therapist to express yourself.

8. You can't handle stress

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As well as not being able to handle the pressures you might be facing in life, you might also really struggle with handling stress.  Stress can really affect your health so getting help from a therapist might just give you the tools your need to deal with your stress.

9. You have a history of hurting others

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If your anger manifests itself as aggression, you might have a history of hurting those around you, whether they're family members, friends, acquaintances, or even total strangers!  You might've physically or emotionally hurt them and this could've been because of how you've been feeling.

10. You've been arrested

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If you have a history of causing altercations, physically hurting others, or even damaging property because of your anger, you might have been arrested for your behavior.  This is a sure sign that you need help from a therapist because your anger is beginning to ruin your life chances.

11. You have high blood pressure

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Anger and stress often manifest in physical symptoms that can be detrimental to not only your well-being but your physical health too.  One of these health issues is high blood pressure, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and even heart attacks.

12. Chest pain is common

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Another physical symptom you might experience due to your anger issues is chest pain.  This usually occurs when your blood pressure rises and forces your heart to work much harder than usual.  This may result in angina because you're blood vessels carry less blood and oxygen to the heart.

13. You get regular headaches

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Headaches may also be another symptom of your anger and another sure sign that you need help in managing your anger issues.  They happen when you're angry because it may cause the muscles on the back of your neck and scalp to tense up and cause tension headaches.

14. You take dangerous risks

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When you're so angry, you might not be able to think straight and you therefore take risks and engage in dangerous behaviors.  This might include driving at high speeds or violent behavior.  This behavior can cause harm to not only yourself but to others too and certainly needs addressing.

15. You often pick fights with strangers

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You might not have any reason to but some of your risky and dangerous behavior might involve going out specifically to pick fights with strangers.  This might be a sign that you have low self-esteem, or feel unworthy, but either way, you need help to manage this.

16. You misuse dr*gs or alcohol to cope

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You might misuse dr*gs or alcohol or both to cope with your anger issues because, in the short term, it can help you to relax.  But if you're prone to aggressive behavior, dr*gs, and alcohol can often make it worse, let alone the health risks involved with substance abuse.

17. You have low self-esteem

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You might have particularly low self-esteem and this could be one of the many reasons you feel angry because you feel a sense of worthlessness around you.  You might feel like you don't matter to people and this can worsen these emotions.  But getting the right help can make you see that there are people around you that care.

18. You're always fighting or arguing with someone

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You might always find that you're not in the middle of a fight.  When one conflict resolves, another one seems to begin, and most of the time, these arguments are with the people closest to you.  And going back to the previous point, you have to ask yourself: if they didn't care, would they really stick around to argue with me or would they just cut me off?

19. You have a short fuse

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It doesn't take much for you to blow your lid, and to be completely honest, sometimes it seems like there's nothing at all for you to be angry about!  And having a short fuse might cause you to express your anger in sudden unexpected outbursts which can make people feel like they're constantly walking on eggshells around you.

20. You can't accept criticism

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Criticism is just part of life and you're going to experience it at some point.  Whether it's in your personal life or at work, you have a real issue with accepting criticism and this can make you feel angry and victimized.  And the big problem with this is that you never ever learn.

21. You feel like everyone's attacking you

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If you have an anger problem, you can't see anything from anyone else's perspective and you constantly feel like everyone is out to get you.  And feeling like this can worsen your anger and bring down your self-esteem and sense of worthlessness even further.

22. You have a history of depression or anxiety

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You might have a history of depression or anxiety that might make dealing with your emotions, especially strong ones like anger, feel pretty impossible.  And it can feel like a vicious cycle, with your depression or anxiety symptoms worsening your anger issues.

23. You have thoughts of hurting yourself or others

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Even if you've not got a history of hurting others, physically or emotionally, your anger issues might give you intrusive thoughts of hurting others or even yourself.  It is important to remember that these thoughts are NOT you and you can get help with managing them.

24. You have a history of trauma

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If you have a history of trauma or abuse this can really affect how you're able to deal with your anger and how you express it.  But seeking help from a professional can really help you to unpack this trauma and find effective ways of dealing with how it affects your mental health, stress levels, and anger issues.

25. You've been fired from work

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Your anger issues might have started to affect your life in more ways and instead of just affecting your personal life, you might be struggling at work.  And the ways you express your anger could see you being fired from your role.  Even if it's not due to any kind of aggression, if you avoid going to work because of how you feel, this might force them to lay you off.

26. You can't let anything go

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Another real issue you might experience is the fact that you hold long-standing grudges that you just can let go of.  This can really cause you to lose friends and eventually, this can lead you to alienate yourself from everyone when you need their support the most.

27. You've lost friends

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Depending on how you express your anger, it's likely that you have lost friends along the way due to your behavior or even your tendency to isolate yourself.  Getting help can really help you to think straight and see other perspectives, and just maybe, you'll regain to confidence to reach out to them again.

28. You have trouble controlling your anger

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Anger is a powerful emotion and it can cause so many physical reactions related to stress.  And this can make it feel pretty impossible to control your anger, especially if your body is reacting in these physical ways.  Professional help from a therapist can help you to control these reactions through a series of simple exercises.

29. Other people have told you that you need help

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If you have real anger management issues that you're worried about, there's no doubt that other people have noticed as well.  Especially because they're being affected, or even hurt, by your behavior.  And they've probably told you to get some help from a professional.

30. Your anger is controlling your life

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If you have lost control of your anger and any other emotions, you might feel like it is seriously controlling your life, dictating who you can be around, and even making you lose all that's important to you.  If you're worried, it is so important to get some help before it gets worse.