Anger? Could I Be Angry And Not Know It?
Anger is a normal grief repsonse because there is a lot to be angry about. However, since we each grieve differently – not all of us expereince anger.
Gage Your Rage
Take a minute and honestly gage your rage. Use the following questions as your guide.
- Do I find myself getting upset over things that seem minor and I wonder why I am so upset?
- Do I take my anger out on the people that I really care about and who care about me?
- Am I feeling extra sensitive, irritable and frustrated?
- Do I find myself getting angry while driving?
- Do I find myself getting agitated when dealing with people who are just doing their job?
Anger Impacts In degrees
Anger can manifest on a scale anywhere from minor irritation and frustration to intense rage. Because of this it’s easy to be angry and not realize it. And it’s easy to overlook/deny the fact that we are taking our anger out on family members, friends, co-workers or the cashier at the grocery store… Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to be angry about after the death of a loved one. If you are angry, working through your anger is part the healing process and doing your personal Grief Work. Which means it’s time to find ways to release your anger that are healthy and positive. For example, journaling, running, walking, kneading bread, volunteering/serving others…
Healing Forward Action Step:
Gage Your Rage and then figure out healthy ways to release it.
We share more information about normal grief anger and how to resolve it in our book, Grieving Forward: Death Happened, Now What? If you already have the book and now realize that you are in fact still angry, open the book to page 115. Working through anger can be an ongoing process too.