Rage

We explain what the feeling of anger is and why we feel it. In addition, we tell you what its negative consequences are.

What is the feeling of anger?

Rage, also referred to as anger, fury, annoyance, wrath or anger, It is a primary emotion that is characterized by an intense feeling of rejection and indignation which can manifest itself in resentment, aggression and even physical violence, depending on the nature of the person and the intensity of the anger felt.

The word “rage” comes from Latin ragesa term used in Antiquity for the disease of the same name that afflicts dogs, bats and other mammals, and which makes them particularly aggressive and violent. The ancient Romans already used this word in a figurative sense to describe the intensity of people's anger, as a synonym for gonna either ragesomething that Spanish also inherited from Latin.

It is difficult, however, to establish exactly the meaning of “rage” compared to other terms that mean the same thing. It is a very subjective word, with which you can describe simple anger (for example: “I was angry that you ignored me the other day”) to furious aggressiveness (for example: “taken by rage, the warrior wounded his companions.

The physical and psychological symptoms of rabies are very well known. On the one hand, it increases heart rate and blood pressure, induces the secretion of adrenaline and norepinephrine, hormones that prepare the body for an escape or fight reaction (attacking the source of discomfort or fleeing from it); and on the other makes people prone to antipathy, hostility, or violence so they may do or say things they might later regret. This is why since ancient times, rage has been considered a dangerous passion, linked to the most primitive aspects (the reptilian brain) of the individual.

Differences between anger and rage

In a broad sense, the terms “anger”, “rage”, or also “fury”, “anger” or “anger”, are terms that refer to the same thing, although it is possible to establish a certain criterion of gradation that is, from highest to lowest, between them. Thus, for example, “anger” and “anger” tend to be used for more moderate feelings, while “anger,” “fury” and “anger” express the maximum meaning of the spectrum, that is, very great, uncontrollable anger.

However, “anger” is a rather ambiguous term, which can be used to replace any of its synonyms. This is why it can refer to momentary and manageable anger (a huff) or to an angry and hostile attitude.

Why do we feel anger?

Anger is a normal human emotion, which appears in adverse or frustrating situations, acting as a defense mechanism. This means that rabies is part of an ancient survival mechanism, intended to physically and mentally prepare the individual for a situation in which his or her well-being is being threatened.

For example, in situations where a predator threatens to attack the human being, rage gives it access to all the brute force and aggression possible to intimidate it. Or, if a competitor is taking all the food resources, it takes rage to take them by force.

Today rabies continues to fulfill the same role, although the species' way of life has changed radically. This is why Its appearance in many contexts is frowned upon, as it leads the individual to act instinctively and to make quick and violent decisions. Hence, the reasons why rabies appears today are entirely subjective, that is, they can change enormously from one individual to another.

A well-managed rage, however, one that has not been repressed to the point of exploding, can be an important driver for healthy personality and individual development. The rage can be a good indicator that something is wrong that things happen that, even if they cannot be easily detected, bother on a very primary level. This, however, requires the ability to observe and identify anger, without allowing it to dominate consciousness and prevent rationality.

Negative consequences of rage

The uncontrolled release or silent repression of rage usually brings with it different negative consequences, both for the mind and the body. Some of them may be:

• The angry person does or says things that seem fair and necessary at the moment, but that will later make him feel guilty and regret it, which can damage valuable relationships and self-esteem.
• In the body of the angry person there is a sudden increase in cardiac activity and blood pressure, which can lead to vascular, cardiac or ischemic problems in sensitive people.
• Angry people momentarily lose the capacity for long-term reasoning, and They can make very counterproductive decisions because they are unable to see the consequences in the medium or long term.
• In the body of the rabid person there is an increase in the production of gastric juices, which causes long-term conditions such as gastritis or gastric ulcer, and even stomach cancer.
• Outbursts of rage drain the individual's energy and leave him exhausted which is often equivalent to going from anger to depression in just a few moments.

Tips for managing anger

Managing anger is not easy, and requires sustained training and work, especially for people susceptible or prone to anger. No set of advice can replace the help of a professional in the matter, but to correctly manage anger in general it is recommended:

• Have explosion containment methods. Anger is useful because it leads the individual to tell his truth: what he does not like, what hurts him, what offends him, but he does it in the worst way: shouting, insulting, with hurtful words. To prevent this type of outbursts, the ideal is to have a containment method with which to calm yourself: counting from one to ten slowly, some type of mantra to repeat, even momentarily withdrawing from the situation to avoid committing any greater evil.
• Don't “leave things like that”. Whether you had an altercation or avoided conflict by withdrawing from the debate, it is important to address the reasons why the anger arose in the first place. This includes apologizing, demanding or giving explanations to those appropriate, and accepting one's anger as a valid and true feeling, even if the way it was handled is not.
• Try to say what you feel. In a moment of anger, connecting with your emotions can be essential, either to warn others what you feel, or to validate your own feeling. It is a good idea to say what you feel, instead of insulting, yelling or attacking.

Continue with: Irascible

References

• “Rage” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
• “Ira” in the Dictionary of the Language of the Royal Spanish Academy.
• “Etymology of Rage” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
• “Anger” on Wikipedia.
• “Anger control: techniques to avoid losing control” (video) in Psychology Pills.