If you often feel like you need to let off steam but don’t know how, you might need an “anger buddy.”
According to psychologists, having a friend you can get angry with can actually be good for your emotional health and potentially lead to a better life.
Rather than staying calm and level-headed, some experts suggest it may be healthier to talk about it angrily with a trusted person.
Whether it’s an annoying coworker or mother-in-law, there are countless people and circumstances that can make us angry.
Experts say having a friend who is feeling the same rage can be the best way to vent pent-up frustrations. You acknowledge and acknowledge the intense emotions that can seem normal to outsiders.
Dr Sham Singh, a psychiatrist who takes a holistic approach to mental health, said: ‘Having someone you can chat to when you’re angry can be really helpful.
If you often feel like you need to let off steam but don’t know how, you might need an ‘anger buddy’ (stock image)
‘It provides a sounding board for your emotions without being judged, and it helps you gain clarity about how you are feeling.
‘Given the circumstances, the feeling of anger will be proportionally reduced if you encounter someone who understands your feelings and empathizes with you.’
He added: ‘Such an outlet prevents frustration and resentment that will undoubtedly surface later and only become more destructive over time.
‘Sharing your anger with a good friend can provide insight into a problem and sometimes new perspectives or solutions.’
A study Last year I even discovered that anger can make you achieve more, because it inspires you to try harder.
According to Georgina Sturmer, a registered counselor with MBACP, anger can be a very useful emotion for processing “natural human emotions.”
“It’s amazing how often we think anger is somehow ‘bad,’ when in fact it’s a natural human emotion,” she said.
‘We are often led to believe that anger is somehow bad and should be suppressed or ignored. But in fact, anger is simply part of the human experience.
“It’s a signal, an emotion like any other, that tells us how we feel in response to something that has happened to us.”
“It is helpful to find an outlet for our anger so that we can understand and explore it, rather than letting it fester.
“These outlets, or coping strategies, vary greatly from person to person. And for some of us, it’s all about venting our anger to an ‘anger buddy.’
“The idea of an ‘anger friend’ suggests someone who is ready and willing to listen to us when we are angry. Who makes us feel that our feelings are rational and valid.”
According to registered counselor Georgina Sturmer, anger can be a very useful emotion for processing ‘natural human emotions’ (stock photo)
Dr. Tom MacLaren, a psychiatrist at Cognition Health, agreed that having an “anger buddy” can be important for “healthy emotional processing” and can result in a better life overall.
Having an “anger friend,” someone who is willing to listen and share your moments of anger with you, can be a surprisingly powerful tool for maintaining your emotional well-being.
‘This type of emotional release is crucial, because pent-up anger can lead to stress, anxiety, and even physical health problems, such as headaches or high blood pressure.
“When you express your anger to a good friend, you are not only expressing your anger, you are also processing it.”
He agreed that it is a powerful tool for making important changes in your life, allowing you to protect and defend yourself and the things you believe in.
“In short, having an ‘anger buddy’ allows for healthy emotional processing. And knowing how to effectively manage anger can transform this powerful emotion into a catalyst for positive change in your life,” he said.
However, Georgina advises taking precautions to ensure that we don’t feel worse about ourselves when we vent.
“There are subtleties in these kinds of relationships that can make the difference between a healthy outlet and something that makes us feel worse.
She said it’s important for “fad” friends to remain a source of support and cheer, rather than an outlet for catastrophic spiraling thoughts. In these cases, she suggests considering why this is happening.
“We may need to set some boundaries to ensure we express ourselves without reinforcing our difficult feelings. It’s also important to remember that there are two sides to this relationship.
“If a friend is always there for us when we need to vent our anger, then it’s worth making sure we play a similar role. And if we’re only inclined to pick up the phone when we’re angry, what does that say about our friendship?
‘Is it possible that we shy away from happier, more celebratory conversations? If so, it could mean that we feel awkward or uncomfortable about them.
‘Maybe we’re afraid that we’re not coming across as exciting enough, or that our positivity won’t be reciprocated.’