In the 1900's, much time and energy has been spent by those in the psychological community trying to come to a place of greater understanding and definition on various forms of behavioral and relational dysfunctions. While every form of dysfunction can have it's crippling characteristics, none is more dangerous than that of the Anger Addict or Rageaholic.

Have you ever known someone, or perhaps you, yourself, ever been so angry that you felt your cheeks get warm as they turned red? How about kicking the dog, just because it's in the way? Due to anger, broken out in a sweat? Found yourself shaking or trembling with rage? Felt so angry that you wanted to throw a stereo through your ex spouse's car windshield? Been angry enough you couldn't even carry a conversation? Wanted to smash or break something, or someone, just to vent your rage? Have you found yourself in the past yelling at people without even thinking? Snapping at your children, your husband, your wife, your co-workers, your friends, or complete strangers who cut you off on the freeway? Intentionally cut in front of another driver, when they just did it to you? Chased another vehicle down a freeway just to make a point? Pulled in front of a vehicle on the freeway and then slowed way down to let the driver behind you know what it feels like to sit behind a slow driver? Have you ever been told you have a short fuse, or are like a ticking time bomb? Do you privately feel like you're losing a grip on your life?

Anger is one of our most normal basic emotions. In it's proper place, and proper balance, it's a perfectly healthy response. But for many, anger is much more.

Anger opens inner flood gates that allows adrenalin to flood throughout our bodies and our brains. It generates a "Superman" scenario where one feels totally powerful, and totally hyped, ready to take on the world. Often in the face of extreme sports, when an athlete is reaching the end of his or her physical ability, you may hear a coach start to yell, "Wake Up! Get Angry!" That coach is calling on that athlete to tap into a rush of adrenalin that anger can generate. The rush is so powerful and feels so strong and good, many of us want to experience it again and again, so with, or with-out realizing it, we choose to stay in a semi-constant state of anger or rage. The scenario becomes very similar to an alcoholic who sneaks little sips of alcohol between drunken binges. The Anger Addict or Rageaholic hides or finds ways to hold onto small amounts of anger between the extreme "addictive binges" of outrage.

When this becomes your lifestyle, you are a "drunk". Not drunk with alcohol, but drunk and addicted to the adrenalin rush created by this state of being. Your thinking becomes impaired. You're able to justify your outrageous behavior. And someone else is always to blame for your problems in life, no matter what the truth is. You know you're wrong, and quietly, you know you've got a problem, but on the other hand, when you're not angry, WOW you sure do miss that powerful feeling! You crave that next hit of adrenalin. You need it. You're hooked. You can't live without it. The only way you're going to get it is to explode and hurt the people you love or those who love you, but you need that hit of adrenalin. So you give in and do it again...and again...and again...and again. Sometimes in between "binges" you may utter those words, "I'm sorry! It'll never happen again!" Then you feel that craving again for more adrenalin.

Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next