8 Reasons Why You Might Be Quick To Anger And How To Deal With Them

Anger has gained a negative reputation, especially in recent years. It is now largely viewed as a social abnormality if you have a habit of getting easily angered. For this reason, regulation of emotions (in general) and anger (in specific) is becoming more and more important. In order to fit in the world around us, we need to regulate our anger or at least make use of it in appropriate ways.

But for some people they still find themselves quick to anger and they are aware of it. Well, the good news is being aware of yourself if you have a habit of being quick to anger is a good first step, but we should also understand why. Knowing why will help to resolve the underlying reason and help control anger.

Why you may be quick to anger and how to deal with them

Here are some possible reasons why you may be quick to anger and tips on how to resolve them.

1. Physical health

There are a plethora of physical health ailments that can cause anger as a direct or indirect symptom. This is probably one of the most challenging to overcome, but the good news is many physical health causes can be resolved. Some possible and more common physical health conditions that can make you quick to anger are high blood pressure (possibly too much salt in your diet), diabetes/high blood sugar, low iron, or even something as simple as hunger. Any of these and more can cause temper problems although anger is not a guaranteed symptom.

The solution:

This one may require some initial investigation by a medical professional who can pinpoint what (if any) physical health conditions you may have which are causing your anger. Once this is determined, your doctor should discuss any treatment options that might be available. Usually, resolving the underlying physical condition resolves any issues with rapid angering.

2. Mental health

Just like physical health can be a major reason for being quick to anger, underlying mental health conditions can also do the same. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety are just some mental health conditions that can make you quick to anger. This usually happens either because anger is a direct symptom or because they decrease your ability to regulate or control your anger. Regardless, anger is not a guaranteed symptom here, either, but it is still possible.

The solution:

The solution here is to get professional help (likely in the form of counseling) to either determine if you have a mental health condition and to guide yourself along the path of resolving it. It is also a good idea to research into these online before getting counseling so you can understand them beforehand. Typically, counseling will help you challenge bad thought patterns and find ways to cope with the mental illnesses or their symptoms. This will typically be sufficient to ease the effect they have on your life (including anger).

3. Troubled Past/Trauma

Yes, having a troubled past or trauma is basically just a mental health issue, but this one also deserves its own acknowledgement because there is much to say on it. Again, those with traumas or past troubles may not have anger problems. In fact, some people with who fall under this category could actually subdue their anger or have no issue related to it. It is hard to say exactly how someone will react to trauma, but anger is a possible reason.

This is one of those things that can cause a rapid temper directly or decrease your ability to cope with situations that would cause anger. In other people, one situation may only cause mild to moderate levels of anger, but you may struggle to cope with a similar situation because of a challenging past. You might already be emotionally drained from what you’ve dealt with before and you don’t have the mental stamina to put up with more.

The solution:

The ideal way to resolve this would be to control or cure trauma. Yes, it is possible but it could also take some time. Get professional help if you need it. Most likely, you may go through desensitization or exposure to help you come to terms with the life event(s). This usually includes recalling the event in a safe and controlled environment so as to make the emotional reaction it causes more manageable and decrease its impact. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also a possible treatment method, and there are many others.

Even if you don’t fully cure yourself from trauma in the initial stages, there is still a good chance you will improve gradually. You will also likely learn skills to cope and this, along with the slow process of healing, should help you control your anger to some degree. Just be patient with yourself and remain optimistic.

4. You saw too much anger

One reason you may be quick to anger is because you have been exposed to anger way more than you should’ve been. Possibly at a young age or possibly in adulthood, exposure to anger may set a bad example for you that distorts your idea of how difficult situations should be handled. You may have gotten the idea that quick and overly aggressive anger is the best way for you to solve your problems, but it is not. You may subconsciously think that your anger is normal despite the fact that it isn’t. It is not fully your fault but you can take ownership by fixing this.

The solution:

Memories are hard to erase, but they can be reframed and their repercussions controlled. First, you have to get into the habit of envisioning yourself in a state of calmness. You can set your own example by doing this. Always try to act in a manner that is calm and just by experiencing this you are likely to reinforce calm behaviors. Also try to think more slowly.

Another thing you can do is surround yourself with calm people. It can be rewarding if you begin to follow their lead. It is your choice to emulate people. Break off from bad habits and try to learn or pick up new, more favorable ones like self-control.

5. You haven’t fully learned how to regulate your anger

You may have seen too much anger in your past but it is also possible that you just never fully learned how to regulate yours. This is actually a very common problem. Controlling your temper is a skill and while it is possible to learn it yourself, you can benefit if other people help you by teaching or at least setting an example.

The solution:

You can benefit from surrounding yourself with calm people to see how they react in frustrating situations and practice emulating them. Again, you can also envision yourself in a state of calmness and follow your own example. You are free to teach yourself and discover novel ways to regulate your anger. Consider doing your own research on how to regulate anger.

6. You resist your anger too much (note: let it out calmly in private, not in public)

In situations that would usually cause people anger, your impulsive reaction may be to resist your anger. You may also notice that this probably doesn’t work as it doesn’t for many people. The reason here being when we resist emotions rather than embracing them (as we should do) we might end up strengthening them. Resistance has a poor (although not non-existent) success rate.

The solution:

Yes, resisting anger may make it stronger but you also shouldn’t be going on a tirade at every provocation. So what should you do? Instead, don’t resist the anger but try to control your reaction to it. I.e. allow yourself to feel it but avoid saying or doing anything you might regret. If you need time afterwards to let out your emotions, take that time in private. Try screaming into a pillow or punching a boxing bag. Do something away from public attention that will help relieve you.

7. You have a low frustration tolerance

Frustration tolerance is the amount of frustration you can handle. If you have a low frustration tolerance it means you are not able to handle difficult situations as well as other people and your response may be more emotional. This can cause rapid anger.

The solution:

What you can do here is grow your frustration tolerance by exposing yourself to low stakes situations that might otherwise deplete your self-control. Try doing things that require patience and that may be tedious so you can encounter frustrations. Learn ways to cope with them and persist regardless.

8. Impatience – you want to react too quickly

Frustration tolerance and patience fall under the same category but they are slightly different. If you are impatient, you probably want things done quickly and properly. Having a low frustration tolerance is indicative of a lack of patience but not everything that counts as poor patience is indicative of a low frustration tolerance.

The solution:

Practice. That’s right. Find controlled situations that require patience and put yourself through those in order to practice coping and keeping your composure. The brain is like a muscle and people who practice a skill are more likely to become better at it.

Check out these posts!

• How To Control Anger
• How To Turn Anger Into A Good Thing
• How To Reframe Anger