What Are The 3 Types Of Anger?

Not everyone knows it, but there are 3 types of anger that we can experience according to the categories used by experts. Understanding these different types of anger and how they differentiate from one another is important for anyone dealing with anger issues of their own.

If you are struggling and you recognize that something needs to change, anger management counseling is out there and it will help a lot. We’re going to talk today about the different types of anger people experience and how counseling can help with control.

1. Passive Aggression

Passive aggression is often not thought of as being problematic. But it’s still unhealthy and can be dealt with better. Passive aggression manifests itself as a desire to hide your anger and to internalize it. That might mean being quiet or ignoring people instead of shouting and raging.

Pretending things are fine and bottling things up while giving off passive-aggressive vibes to those around you isn’t a great thing for anyone. In many cases, this kind of anger comes from a need to be in control of the situation despite your rising anger levels.

2. Open Aggression

It’s even more important to seek anger management help and support if you’ve been known to lash out and display open aggression. That’s the case whether that open aggression is directed towards yourself or other people. It can be damaging and destructive and it should be dealt with as quickly as possible.

It doesn’t necessarily need to be physical aggression. Bullying, accusing and shouting can all be forms of open aggression even if there’s no violence involved. The mental impact this kind of aggression can have on other people can be just as great.

3. Assertive Anger

Assertive anger is usually considered the optimal way to express and deal with feelings of anger. No one can prevent themselves from getting angry sometimes, but it’s how it’s dealt with and communicated that’s most important of all.

Assertive anger is when you take control of the situation and your emotions and try to communicate them to the relevant people in a way that’s respectful and considered. At the most basic level, it comes down to thinking before you speak.

How Counseling Can Help with Anger Problems

There are several ways in which counseling can help you to deal with your anger problems, regardless of which of the 3 types of anger you’ve been displaying. With the help of anger management counseling, you can get to the bottom of what’s making you react the way you do.

The anger management counselor you work with will also be able to work on managing your emotions and staying in control when you start to feel yourself getting angry. That way, you can avoid taking things out on yourself or those around you.