Now Might Be a Good Time to Plug Into Your Outlet
“Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.” Aristotle
My outburst caught me completely off guard. After a seemingly trivial episode in which I realized I had forgotten something at home while traveling to work, I screamed a series of expletives to no one in particular. Afterwards I felt both surprised and strangely a little better, but at the same time disturbed by the force of my reaction when I am usually pretty even keeled. I wondered where that anger was coming from.
Later that day I took a few minutes to process this episode with one of my PeerRxMed buddies. In doing so, I was able to see how a stressor from a work-related issue may have been the real source of my outburst, with my forgetfulness being a catalyst for the anger that was apparently lurking just under the surface. We both observed that lately there seems to be a lot more pent-up anger (or anger-like emotions) being expressed in less than constructive ways among our colleagues and teammates, and noted the many reasons why this might be. We also checked in with each other as to how we were processing our numerous present challenges and whether we were regularly accessing the outlets that we know are helpful for us. Finally, we agreed that it would be wise for us to check in more frequently to specifically ask how each of us was doing, while not accepting “I’m fine” for an answer.
Most of us who work in healthcare have been led to believe the experience of anger is a very “unprofessional” emotion, and therefore we often deny that we’re even having such an emotion at all. While certainly the manner in which one expresses their anger can be inappropriate and/or destructive, the experience of anger itself is quite natural and very understandable given our past 2+ years.
Wondering what the professionals recommend for “anger management” these days, I visited the website of our colleagues at Mental Health America (MHA) and was relieved to find that perhaps my vocal outburst was not so inappropriate after all. Some of their suggestions for outlets include consciously pausing and breathing, exercising, journaling, dancing, singing, going to a different room or outside, verbalizing the anger in an appropriate setting (aka “venting”), asking for help, and even screaming (in private). And of course, they emphasized the importance of gaining a better understanding of the cause or causes of the anger for you, and managing both yourself and that circumstance.
So, if you’ve experienced feelings of anger lately (or whatever you call your “anger-like emotions”), please know you’re not abnormal and you’re not alone. It is important to utilize an effective outlet for the expression of this anger since suppressing it will not make it go away, but instead increase the odds that it will leak or burst out in untimely or inappropriate ways. Please remember that your PeerRxMed partner is standing by to help support you, since I’m confident that you are no longer foolish enough to think you can or should manage your challenges and distress on your own. Indeed, we all need to leave those days behind us. After all, no one should care alone … ever.
For more suggestions and details from Mental Health America, here are some links:
· Dealing with anger and frustration: Link
· Healthy ways to release rage: Link