Anger is a powerful and natural emotion, the Counseling and Psychological Services Center intern said at an anger management workshop Wednesday. The presentation, "Anger Management: Repairing Relationships" was prepared and led by CAPS Doctoral Psychology intern, Meagan N. Houston.
"Controlling your anger doesn’t mean suppressing it or keeping it in, but actually dealing with it," Houston said.
The emotion often hides other feelings such as sadness.
"Anger is more powerful than sadness, so it’s easier to be angry," Houston said. "You’re more vulnerable than when you’re sad or you’re hurt."
People respond to anger differently, Houston said. The "lion" is an explosive type, who often seeks out situations that could incur anger. The "lamb" is a passive-aggressive type who withdraws, always claiming things are OK. The "stamp-saver" bottles emotions for long periods of time, and the "mad bomber" responds aggressively to anger and may incorporate violence into responses.
Not all forms of anger are negative, Houston said. Anger can motivate and aid in communication. But anger can also interfere with one’s ability to think clearly. Biologically, it affects heart rate, blood pressure, sleep and digestion. Emotionally, anger leads to depression and low self-esteem.
Men and women express anger differently, Houston said. A man is more likely to show his anger through facial expressions, while a woman usually vocalizes her feelings.
"Anger is a more acceptable emotion to have as a male. It’s paired with aggression… With a woman, the stereotype is to be perfect," Houston said.
Anger can be dealt with in multiple steps, she said. A person must first discover the cause. Then the person must identify the real problem and give up a "must win attitude."
The anger management workshop is held once a month, part of a 10-week program that CAPS offers to students in the fall and spring, Assistant Director and Director of Outreach Services at CAPS Kimberly A. James said.
Every week, students can learn from a variety of workshops offered by CAPS. The next CAPS workshop will be Wednesday at noon in the UC Rodeo Room.
For more information students can visit www.caps.uh.edu.
