Anger

 Anger is a completely natural human emotion. It’s part of our built-in survival system — a signal that something feels unfair, threatening, or out of our control. Everyone experiences anger at times; it’s not “bad” or “wrong.” What matters is how we understand it, respond to it, and learn from what it’s trying to tell us.

From a biological point of view, anger activates the body’s fight-or-flight response. When we feel under threat — physically or emotionally — our brain releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Our heart rate and blood pressure rise, our muscles tense, and our thoughts speed up. This ancient response evolved to protect us, helping our ancestors react quickly in dangerous situations.

In modern life, though, the “threats” are often emotional rather than physical: feeling unheard, disrespected, stuck, or overwhelmed. Because our brain doesn’t always distinguish between a real danger and an emotional one, the same powerful physical response can be triggered by work stress, relationship conflict, or frustration with ourselves..

When we feel angry, the primitive brain (sometimes called the amygdala or emotional brain) takes charge. Its main goal is to keep us safe, but it reacts quickly and instinctively — often before our intellectual brain (the calm, logical, reasoning part) has a chance to step in. This can lead to outbursts or impulsive words and actions that don’t really match what we want or who we are.

Once the immediate surge of anger passes, people often feel drained, sad, or guilty. That’s because anger is sometimes a “secondary emotion” — it can mask other, more vulnerable feelings like hurt, fear, or helplessness. Recognising this doesn’t mean anger is invalid; it means it’s a signal that something deeper needs care and attention.

Anger isn’t purely destructive. It can be protective, motivating, and clarifying. It can signal where boundaries need to be set or where change is needed. In healthy expression, anger can empower us to speak up, protect ourselves, or stand against injustice. But when anger builds up or feels out of control, it can affect health, relationships, and wellbeing.

Learning to manage anger isn’t about suppressing it — it’s about understanding it. When we lower stress levels, calm the nervous system, and engage the thinking brain, we can respond to anger more constructively. Techniques like relaxation, deep breathing, mindfulness, or therapies such as Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help retrain the brain to react more calmly, allowing space to choose a measured response instead of a reactive one.

 Feeling angry doesn’t make someone “bad” or “broken.” It makes them human. Anger is often a sign of unmet needs, exhaustion, or emotional pain. With awareness, self-kindness, and the right tools, it’s possible to turn anger from something overwhelming into something meaningful — a guide toward understanding ourselves better and creating greater peace within. 

Rather than analysing the past or why anger developed, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy focuses on the future — what’s going well, what’s already improving, and what a calmer, more confident version of you looks like.

Each session is collaborative and supportive. Together, we explore small, achievable steps that help you manage stress, think more clearly, and respond to life’s challenges with calm confidence.

With practice, many clients find that they feel lighter, sleep better, and handle daily frustrations more easily. SFH helps you not just “manage” anger, but transform your relationship with it — so you can live with more balance, control, and inner peace.