Episode 35: I Don’t Have an Anger Issue

Continuing our deep dive into the emotion of anger, this episode specifically addresses the person who does not see how the issues they are facing might be connected to unresolved anger. 

In this episode, we start with an overview of why anger is so often a focal point in therapy. We review the meaning of anger in terms of the lessons it is trying to teach us about our needs in the world. We discuss how anger itself is not pathological, but rather is an essential part of being human that can affect the way we deal with all emotions, especially the ones that might make us feel uncomfortable.

We then expand the discussion to consider how the culture in our families and broader communities shapes our deep beliefs about anger. We look at how some of potential models we might have seen growing up lead us to make lifelong decisions about how we experience and express anger.  

We then discuss what a person might be saying when they claim they have no issues with anger in their life. We describe many common complaints that people bring into the therapy room that would seem on the surface to have no direct connection to anger. We look underneath the surface of these issues to reveal how they might be related to unresolved and unexpressed anger.

Although some therapy patients experience intense inner conflict when they first begin to realize how anger issues might have shaped their life, we conclude this episode by sketching out the step-by-step recovery plan for healing unresolved anger. We describe how the path towards healing involves first learning some important emotional principles and then learning some practical skills. Over the years in the clinic, I have seen many people heal their anger issues and recover hope for emotional wellness and deeper relationships. 

If you have enjoyed this episode and want to take steps toward healing your own anger, please check out Dr. Raker's new book, Disarm the Bomb! Defuse ANGER Before it Derails Your Life, along with the Workbook & Study Guide. Both are now available at www.drdanraker.com. 

As a special "Thank you!" PLP Podcast listeners can use this exclusive discount code for 15% off the books at checkout (free shipping in the continental US, too!): 

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