Tag: anger

The Danger of Anger

Not only is anger dangerous, because it can lead to us destroying things, or hurting ourselves. Not only is it dangerous because it makes us feel bad. The greatest danger that I see in anger is its potential to be a mask. Being mad at someone or something else, even being mad at ourselves can distract us, from what it is that is actually making us feel bad. We get hurt by some, we get angry. We fail anything, we get angry.

But what happens, if we contain the anger and it does not go away on its own? What happens, if we never confront our own state of mind, but keep bottling up? Chances are at some point something goes to pieces. A glass, a plate. Maybe we literally hit a wall or even a human being. But even if we do not lash out we have a problem. Because the moment the anger turns into aggression (and it will do that), we act upon that anger. Sure, there are ways to deal with anger that do not hurt anyone, except for ourselves that is.

We release our anger. Hit a punching bag or go to a gym. But here’s the problem. Unless we actually do a structured workout and just release anger, because we feel like it, we will experience an emotional break down. Because we are getting rid of the mask. We are getting rid of what kept us going. And we experience the entirety of the pain and frustration that we have been bottling up. At least at that point we are facing it, but chances are, that it will just roll over us.

And the only thing we can do, is prepare for the breakdown. Because bottling up even more is never a good idea, and releasing anger in any unsafe setting is just as the name suggests: unsafe. Also: the breakdown may catch us, even if we are in a structured setting. So the only thing we really can do is having chocolate nearby and plan what we will do after working out (or whatever release-method we choose) because if we do not have a plan, emptiness will follow the pain. We will end up parallelized and cold and weak. And the moment we are alone with all those things… that is the moment we may think about harming ourselves.

There is nothing wrong with being angry. It is one of the most human things. But we have to know how to deal with our anger. We need to be able to protect ourselves, from our anger. Otherwise we may get hurt and in reaction need anger to mask our pain again.

Therapy-Status

I felt like therapy was getting me nowhere. I did talk to my therapist about it. Then my therapist went on vacation. Meanwhile I was supposed to decide how I want to go on about it. I figured out very quickly that I did not want to stay with my current therapist. And I made the plan to go see someone else. However now that I have not been to a therapy session for almost three weeks, I feel like I do not even want therapy at all anymore. There literally is no difference. Sure, there were some times where I thought that it was the worst time to not have regular sessions, but after all: It was so relaxing to not talk to someone for an hour, trying to explain and justify every severe action I did, without anything. Really. I do not think the last three weeks would have gone any different if I had seen someone in that time. I had a few friends who were amazing when it came to listening to me and giving advice.

Yes, I have been cutting a lot in the last few weeks. Yes, it has been an exhausting time. But now I am just trying to re-define myself. Trying to become better. Trying to move on. The topic of cutting makes me so angry. The thought of going to therapy frustrates me a lot and I just do not know if I really should go on in therapy. Sure, I need to fight my cutting. I should. But, do I need the help of a therapist for that? Do I really spend all that time trying to explain myself? I simply do not see the benefit. I do not need a therapist to revisit the things I have done in a week. I do not need someone asking me how much I drunk or how often I have cut. I can do that all on my own. In fact, I do that per default. I naturally check back in with me, and ask myself how I am, reflecting, trying to figure out how I can handle a problem. I do not need someone who is just as confused with who I am as I am.

Here is the thing: I do not want to. Really, my whole being is resisting, but I will go see another therapist. Because as a matter of fact I need someone to prepare me for the exam-time. I need help getting from “I went a day without cutting.” To “I did not cut for a week.” “For a month.” And hopefully months turn into years. But apparently I cannot get there on my own. So, I have to trust another human. Have to allow another person to see me the way I am. I am not scared of it. Just tired. Because it takes so much effort to try make anyone understand. Especially if I don’t really care about how that person sees me. It is like pouring salt into my cuts, because it forces me to walk all those dark paths again. It makes me remember the pain and loneliness, even if I am over it. But on the other hand I cannot be helped, if I do not talk about it to someone who can actually help me.