Calm's guide to
anger

Name: Campaign Against Living Miserably
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At a glance

What are anger issues?
How do anger issues feel?
Where can I find help?
Talking about anger issues

Illustration of a chemistry set. Tubes and wires weave in and out of test tubes, the contents of a larg central test tube appears to be about to bubble over. The image is a deep, dusky purple, with pink accents, creating a turbulent atmosphere.

What are anger issues?

Anger is a natural emotion in response to perceived threats
It’s normal to feel angry every now and then and most of the time these feelings are manageable
If you feel unable to control your anger, or it’s hurting you, or those around you, you're not alone.

Everyone gets angry sometimes. Anger can even help us to identify problems, or spur us into meeting our goals.

But this emotion can become more complicated when it overwhelms us. If you’re worried, or struggling with outbursts of anger, it doesn’t make you a bad person. There are lots of reasons why you may be feeling angry and there's plenty of support available.

It can feel worrying when you don’t feel in control of your emotions, so if you, or someone you know is struggling to control anger you can find tailored support here.

If you're struggling to move forward or are feeling suicidal because of anger you can speak to CALM in confidence.

CALM’s professional helpline staff are available from 5pm to midnight every day. They can help you explore how you’re feeling and will talk things through without judgement. They'll give practical advice and suggestions to help you find a way to get help and feel better. Find out more about CALM's helpline here.

How do anger issues feel?

Anger can be triggered by different challenges in our lives, such as financial pressures, family issues, or stress, but it can also be a symptom of an underlying condition like depression, or other deep seated difficulties. It’s important to remember you’re not alone and struggling with anger doesn’t make you an irrational person. Anger issues can feel intense and overpowering, emotions may include:

Rage
Irritability at seemingly small things
Feeling restless or on edge
Difficulty concentrating
Being overly argumentative
A pounding heartbeat or tight chest
Physical or verbal outbursts
Tense muscles
Clenching your jaw
Feeling hot or sweaty

You can find more about the symptoms of anger issues on the NHS website. If you think you are experiencing anger issues your GP can help.

Signs you’re finding it difficult to manage your anger

It’s normal to feel angry more quickly if you’re experiencing other difficulties in your life, but while it’s completely natural to feel angry in certain situations, anger can become difficult when you’re no longer able to manage these emotions. If you find you are feeling this way frequently, here are some signs you may need some support in taking control of your anger:

Your anger is having a negative affect on your mental and physical wellbeing
You feel angry often and this may overrule other emotions
You express anger through aggression, or other destructive behaviours
Your anger is having a negative impact on you and people around you

You can get your thoughts and emotions out of your head using our Offload Your Thoughts tool. It can help you let off steam and get some perspective on what you're going through. Give it a go
If you're feeling suicidal or have thoughts of harming yourself because of anger, talk to CALM. Our helpline is open from 5pm to midnight every day. Find out more here.
Outside of these hours, call the Samaritans on 116 123.
Contact your GP for an appointment to talk about how you're feeling
Self-refer yourself to NHS Psychological Therapies.
Find more places to get help with anger here.

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TALKING ABOUT ANGER ISSUES

It can be difficult to talk about anger issues with your friends, family or a medical professional. Here’s some ways you can start a conversation around how you’re feeling:

“I need to talk to you about how I’m feeling. Things are tough and I think I might be struggling with anger issues. I don’t need you to find a solution, I just want to share how I feel”
“I need to talk – I’ve been struggling with things and think I might be experiencing anger issues.”