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If You Have Self Defeating Styles Of Anger Learn How To Control Anger

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by Mark Gorkin, LICSW

Part I outlined three dysfunctional anger styles:

 
  1. "Planning to Get Even,"
  2. "Consuming Anger" and
  3. "Intellectual Intimidation."
This will going over an additional two dysfunctional anger styles so you can learn to control your anger. You didn't know life is all right or wrong? You're victor or victim or just don't belong There is no question, life's but bleak or white Forget ambiguity when hooked on Freud-lite. What happened to subtlety and shades of gray? The world's drinking and shrinking its brain cells away. The rage that's stirred by mental oppression compels this Shrink Rap regression confession.

4. Frequent Flasher. This reactive individual is a fiery flame thrower who's quick to be triggered. The "Flasher" doesn't just expose himself  but he is often feeling exposed as well. I've labeled this explosive type the "HE man." Driving this aggressive, impatient, hyper person are two underlying complexes, which are thinly disguised with sparks and smoke. The first is the "H" type, where the letter "H" stands for "Humiliation." Due to often thinking and feeling rejected, or feeling shown up, and deep-seated unworthiness, this type of person (whether man or woman) explodes with anger. Again, that ager is seated in feeling less than and trying to cover it up rather than realizing and dealing directly with the underlying feelings.

 
"E" is for "Emptiness," brought on by separation anxiety and feelings of abandonment whenever they feel threatened, which can be often. (Again, please, I don't discriminate against men or women, because they both can display these patterns. A HE man personality type can be either male or female.)
 
There's hope for both these types, if they can be led to see their patterns and acknowledge their problematic style. I recall a US State Department manager who finally realized he had to control his temper tantrums. He came up with this strategy: in the middle of a typical, increasingly heated blood-starting-to-boil meeting, Mr. Manager would suddenly announce, "Excuse me, I just remembered, I need to photocopy some documents. I'll be back in five minutes." He'd leave his startled antagonist, walk outside or find a deserted office or bathroom, shout some expletives, and then return. Now he could deliver his anger in an adult manner.
 
5. The Holy Smolder. Some people try holding back their anger, being aware of their Mount St. Helens potential. Others feel a show of anger is a weakness; either you've allowed others to get to you or it's a sign of your being out of control. With this type of rigid and righteous thinking, there is no need to wonder why some folks are early candidates for heart attacks. In fact, much research has shown that people who tend to hold their rage inside often do have heart attacks. Plus, common psychotherapy for heart attack patients is to teach them to diffuse their thinking, ratherthan just stuffing it. They need to learn to turn it off rather than just not show it. Holding rage inside can be deadly. )
 
So they smolder away until they implode (high blood pressure, major depression) or explode ("Volcanus Eruptus" Syndrome). And the time between eruptions usually decreases over the years, so they episodes hapen more and more frequently.  The susceptible person here is often the "SHE man," the psychic partner to the "HE men." The "S" stands for "Savior." This individual isn't much of an individual, more one who blindly and self-righteously upholds "the one right way."
 
This Savior Style personality is often ready to sacrifice or give advice...at for a price that you are expected to pay: unquestioned loyalty and everlasting appreciation. If you fail to deliver that loyalty and appreciation, watch out!
 
I'll finish up the anger style profile next time. Until then, just remember...Practice Safe Stress!

Proceed to Part III

About the Author:

Mark Gorkin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, speaker, trainer and "Online Psychohumorist," known throughout the web, AOL, and the nation as "The Stress Doc." Specialty areas: organizational change and conflict, team building, creativity and humor. 1616 18th Street, NW #312, Washington, DC 20009-2530, (202) 232-8662.

Originally published 4/26/98 Revised 9/2/09 by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.

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Dave
Posted on Tue, 09/01/2009 - 05:03

Thank you for bringing insight that makes sense! I am exactly what you describe, sad to say.