Constructive vs Destructive Anger

Below I have summarized some of Micheal Tull's thoughts on anger from his article titled, Constructive vs Destructive anger. 

It is common for someone with PTSD to experience anger.  Traumatic events can make you feel violated and unsafe. You may feel as though you have little control over your life. Therefore it is completely understandable to feel angry as your body and emotions feel so out of control. 

Although feeling angry is unpleasant or uncomfortable, it serves an important function in recovery. Emotions are the body's way of communicating with us. Emotions can also communicate information to other people, inform us on our environment, prepare us for action, and deepen life experiences.

Anger is an emotion that is often about control.

"When we experience anger, our body may be telling us that we feel as though things are out of our control, or that we have been violated in some way. Anger can motivate us to try to establish control (or a sense of control) over a situation. Given this function of anger, it makes sense that a person with PTSD may often experience anger." -Mathew Tull PHD

Although it is a valid emotion, it has the potential to be used constructively or destructively. 

Constructive anger: In Seeking Safety, Dr. Lisa Najavits describes anger that can be healing. It is something that can help you better understand your situation, other people, and yourself. For anger to be constructive, though, a person must be aware of it. Constructive anger is something that is managed. To be able to manage this anger you have to recognize your own needs and the needs of others. With this awareness your anger can help you gain control or maintain self-respect.

Destructive anger: instead, causes harm. This anger is responded to in unhealthy ways. For example, a person may act out aggressively towards themselves or others. This kind of anger is  something that the person is unaware of or something that the person has suppressed or tried to avoid. 

When anger is not attended to, it builds in strength and the likelihood of it being expressed unhealthily is increased.

Anger is one of the most difficult emotions to manage, but if listened to, your anger can help you learn better ways to respond to your environment. 

There are a number of healthy ways of managing anger. Seeking Safety by Dr. Najavits include a number of ways to deal with anger and PTSD. 

•  self soothing
•  Taking a time out
• seeking out social support

It is important to remember that if you have been pushing down your anger for some time, it may initially feel very uncomfortable to approach it. The anger may feel very intense or out of control. However, the more you approach your anger, listen to it, and respond to it in a healthy way, the more your tolerance for anger will increase, and the long-term negative consequences of not dealing with anger will decrease.

*http://www.seekingsafety.org/