Anxiety and Anger: Understanding the Differences Between Both

November 12, 2021
Anxiety and Anger Management

 

Understanding your emotions is critical as it leads to better well-being and reduces physical symptoms of headaches and stress. However, this process is more complex than it sounds because the most prominent label isn’t the most accurate. The hardness is due to societal and organizational rules against expressing them.

Anxiety and anger are two of the most common emotions. You ought to understand these two critical emotions in more nuanced and precise ways for greater levels of emotional agility. Additionally, understanding these two emotions helps correctly diagnose, leading to correct responses and a clear roadmap to addressing them.

Proper anxiety treatment can save you from anxiety and anger in relationships. Click the button below to book your appointment.

 

Keep reading to understand the differences between these two common emotions.

 

What Is the Difference between the Two Emotions?

Anxiety is an innate response to a perceived threat. It is a feeling of unease, which can either be severe or mild. It is normal for you to experience a certain degree of anxiety or anger in your life. For example, it is normal to worry and be anxious about sitting for an examination or even going for a visa or job interview.

However, when anxiety becomes disproportionate, unmanageable, and persistent, it can lead to anxiety disorders such as specific phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Fortunately, these disorders are treatable, and you can improve with the proper professional care.

On the other hand, anger is a feeling indicated by bitterness toward an object or someone that has wronged you. You can notice anger from your body language, tone of voice, or facial expression. It can be healthy when it encourages you towards making essential changes or motivates you to find solutions to problems.

 

Anxiety and Anger
Physiological Symptoms of Angry Moments

 

Is Rage a Symptom of Anxiety?

According to research, rage, a feeling of intense anger, is among anxiety symptoms and is high in all anxiety disorders. Unlike what you may think, anxiety isn’t just about racing thoughts and a pounding heart; it may appear in various subtle ways, such as internal anger. Anxiety is a core emotional state underlying your expression of anger.

If you are angry most times without a clear cause, it may be anxiety manifesting itself. While unaddressed anxiety can be expressed in anger, suppressing or ignoring anger can increase anxiety. Therefore, it is essential to identify and acknowledge anger on time before it leads to anxiety, which is more challenging and more expensive to treat.

 

Is Aggression a Side Effect of Anxiety?

Anxiety and aggression are critical aspects of your mental health. Aggression intends to harm another and can be verbal, physical, or a combination of both. Research suggests that impulsive aggression is a significant side effect of anxiety, and it is prevalent among women, as indicated below.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 30% of individuals who act aggressively may be expressing maladaptive coping and behavioral responses to an underlying experience of anxiety.

Get immediate anxiety treatment and save yourself from violent behavior. Click the button below to book your appointment.

 

How Do I Stop Anxiety and Anger?

There are several helpful and actionable strategies you can try the next time you are anxious or angry. The most common include:

 

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by transforming your thought pattern. The basis of this therapy is the concept that your feelings, thoughts, actions, and physical sensations are interconnected and that negative thoughts affect your thought process.

If you have anxiety or anger issues, please work with a trained therapist who will help you identify your distorted view of reality and the triggers of your anger and anxiety. After identifying them, you can know how to reframe your thoughts in a way that will help you manage anxiety and anger.

 

Anxiety and Anger
Ways to Manage Anger and Anxiety

 

Physical Exercise

If you want to reduce your anxiety and anger levels, it is advisable to exercise for about 20 minutes. Physical exercise helps manage anxiety and anger in the following ways:

  • It diverts your energy from what is causing you to be anxious.
  • When exercising, the movements in your body decrease muscle tension, lowering your body’s contribution to anxiety and anger.
  • High heart rate when exercising changes your brain chemistry and increases anti-anxiety neurochemicals such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and neurochemicals.

 

Massage

Though the primary method of dealing with anxiety and anger is the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, alternative treatments are becoming popular, and massage is proving effective. The journal of depression and anxiety study found that individuals who receive regular massage have 50 percent of mood disorders, especially anxiety and anger.

Want help with anxiety? Click the button below to book your appointment.

 

Bottom-Line

Anxiety and anger are totally different yet closely related. It is essential to understand the difference between the two for better diagnosis and management. If you are experiencing anxiety and anger too often, we can help you. Please contact us at Mango Clinic or book an appointment with our licensed therapists, who will give you a detailed analysis of your anxiety and anger issues and discuss the possible treatment options.

 

New Anxiety Appointment Banner
Anxiety Appointment Banner

 

© Copyright 2024 Mango Clinic. All rights reserved.