Do I Have Anger Issues?

Take this quiz to find out!

Anger: we all feel it sometimes, whether it's a flash of irritation or a period of boiling rage. On its own, it can be a perfectly valid, healthy, and understandable feeling—but it’s less than ideal if red-hot anger is becoming your default reaction to most events and situations. In other words, anger is normal but it’s your reaction to your anger that is key. How are you supposed to tell if your anger is just an occasional flare-up versus a serious issue, though?

While only a licensed mental health professional can gauge if you have anger issues or not, it’s super easy (and important!) to keep tabs on how you’re thinking and feeling. Hit “Start Quiz” to do a quick check-in with yourself, and to learn how you can start feeling your best.

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Questions Overview

1. The person in front of you in line is taking a super long time. How are you feeling?
  1. I’m totally cool! I’m sure they’ll be done soon.
  2. It’s a little annoying, but it’s not the end of the world.
  3. I can’t lie—I’m pretty frustrated.
  4. I’m so done. Hurry it up, will you?!
2. Your co-worker had an emergency and didn’t finish their half of the project. What do you tell them?
  1. “Don’t worry about it! I hope everything is okay.”
  2. “You should’ve kept me in the loop. Whatever, we’ll figure it out.”
  3. “Seriously?! Ugh. You’re talking to the boss, not me.”
  4. “Are you serious? I can’t believe you’d screw me over like this.”
3. The boy behind you on the bus won’t stop kicking your seat. How do you feel?
  1. I don’t really care. The ride will be over soon, anyway.
  2. I’m pretty annoyed, but I’ll forget about it soon enough.
  3. I’m getting irritated. Maybe he’ll get the message if I recline my seat.
  4. I’m ready to turn around and give his parents a piece of my mind.
4. How many times do you feel genuinely angry throughout the week?
  1. None—it’s extremely rare for me to feel angry.
  2. Maybe once or twice, but not super frequently.
  3. About once a day.
  4. I feel angry multiple times throughout the day.
5. Your roommate forgot to pick you up from work. How does that make you feel?
  1. Slightly annoyed, but it’s no big deal.
  2. I’m definitely frustrated, but I’ll get over it.
  3. I’ll probably give them the silent treatment for the next day.
  4. I’m furious. I’m ready to let them have it.
6. Which statement do you relate to the most?
  1. I feel angry occasionally, but it doesn’t impact my life.
  2. I get angry sometimes, but I try to have it under control.
  3. I feel angry frequently enough that it interferes with my life.
  4. I get angry all the time—it’s how I react to most things.
7. A car cuts you off on your way into work. How do you react?
  1. I don’t react—it’s not worth my time or energy.
  2. I say a choice word under my breath, but I try not to dwell on it.
  3. I honk my horn at them. What the heck was that?!
  4. I roll down my window and scream at them, even if they can’t hear me.
8. You’re in line for a donut, but the guy in front of you buys every last one. What do you do?
  1. Head out the door. There’s always another donut shop!
  2. Return to my car and seethe for a couple minutes.
  3. Give him the dirtiest look I can possibly muster.
  4. Go off on the man for being so selfish.
9. Does it take a lot for you to feel angry?
  1. Absolutely. I can’t remember the last time I was truly mad about something.
  2. Kind of. I get mad sometimes, but not that much.
  3. Not really. I get angry more often than I’d like to admit.
  4. Not at all. I can’t deny that I have a really short fuse.
10. You found out that your friend is spreading rumors about you. How do you confront them?
  1. I don’t confront them at all. They’re not worth my time.
  2. I make an underhanded remark the next time we cross paths.
  3. I leave their texts unanswered for the next few days. That’ll show them!
  4. I get in their face the next time I see them.
11. Whoops! Your flight got delayed by 4 hours. How are you feeling?
  1. Ambivalent. Flying always seems to take a long time.
  2. Annoyed, but I’ll live. Four-hour Netflix marathon, anyone?
  3. Very frustrated. What am I supposed to do now?
  4. Furious. I really, really want to kick something.
12. Do your friends seem comfortable discussing any issues they have with you personally?
  1. Absolutely! They know they can tell me anything.
  2. For the most part, yeah. There aren’t too many issues.
  3. It depends. Sometimes it feels like they gloss over certain details.
  4. Nope. It feels like they’re walking on eggshells around me.

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While it sounds like you have everything under control, it never hurts to have some anger management strategies stashed away for the future. For instance, breathing deeply<\/a>, practicing visualization, and counting to 10 are all helpful ways to manage your anger in the moment, while practicing self-care<\/a> and changing negative thought patterns can help you conquer your anger<\/a> in the long-term.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Release-Negative-Emotions"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-Positive"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Release Negative Emotions","id":1270184,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Release-Negative-Emotions","image":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Release-Negative-Emotions-Step-13-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Release-Negative-Emotions-Step-13-Version-3.jpg","alt":"How to Release Negative Emotions"},{"title":"How to Be Positive","id":112541,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-Positive","image":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Be-Positive-Step-22-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-Positive-Step-22-Version-3.jpg","alt":"How to Be Positive"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":2,"text":"You may have slight anger issues.","meaning":"You seem to keep your cool in a lot of situations, but you still may react in anger a little more frequently than you\u2019d like.

Remember: living life with any amount of anger bottled up inside isn\u2019t fair to the people around you, or yourself! In fact, feeling super angry and stressed can lead to long-term physical and mental health issues, like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and more. Anger issues can also make it really tough to connect and communicate with others in a meaningful way, be they friends, co-workers, or even significant others.

Thankfully, there are plenty of easy ways to manage your anger when it flares up\u2014and it sounds like you\u2019re already halfway there! Breathing deeply<\/a>, practicing visualization, and counting to 10 are all helpful ways to manage your anger in the moment, while practicing self-care<\/a> and changing negative thought patterns can help you conquer your anger<\/a> in the long-term.

Want a little extra support? A therapist can help you work through your anger and discover what\u2019s causing it. Online therapy sites like BetterHelp<\/a><\/b> make it easier than ever to meet with a therapist from the comfort of your home.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Release-Negative-Emotions"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Calm-Down-When-You-are-Angry"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Release Negative Emotions","id":1270184,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Release-Negative-Emotions","image":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Release-Negative-Emotions-Step-13-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Release-Negative-Emotions-Step-13-Version-3.jpg","alt":"How to Release Negative Emotions"},{"title":"How to Calm Down When You are Angry","id":2397957,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Calm-Down-When-You-are-Angry","image":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Calm-Down-When-You-are-Angry-Step-21-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Calm-Down-When-You-are-Angry-Step-21-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Calm Down When You are Angry"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":3,"text":"You may have moderate anger issues.","meaning":"While anger isn\u2019t always your go-to emotion, you seem to lean on it frequently when times get tough or stressful. Although anger in and of itself isn\u2019t a bad thing, you seem to shoulder a little more of this impassioned emotion more than the average person.

Living life with so much anger bottled up inside isn\u2019t fair to the people around you\u2014or yourself! In fact, feeling super angry and stressed can lead to long-term physical and mental health issues, like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and more. Anger issues can also make it really tough to connect and communicate with others in a meaningful way, be they friends, co-workers, or even significant others.

Don\u2019t worry, though\u2014there are plenty of ways to take control and manage your anger in healthy and productive ways. Breathing deeply<\/a>, practicing visualization, and counting to 10 are all helpful ways to manage your anger in the moment, while practicing self-care<\/a> and changing negative thought patterns can help you conquer your anger<\/a> in the long-term.

Meeting with a licensed mental health professional can be really helpful if anger frequently disrupts your day-to-day life. Online therapy sites like BetterHelp<\/a><\/b> make it easier than ever to meet with a therapist from the comfort of your home.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Stop-Yelling-when-Angry"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Control-Your-Temper"}],"link_data":[{"title":"10 Ways to Stop Yelling When You\u2019re Mad","id":9613943,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Stop-Yelling-when-Angry","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Stop-Yelling-when-Angry-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Stop-Yelling-when-Angry-Step-13.jpg","alt":"10 Ways to Stop Yelling When You\u2019re Mad"},{"title":"How to Control Your Temper","id":107652,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Control-Your-Temper","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Control-Your-Temper-Step-16-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Control-Your-Temper-Step-16-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Control Your Temper"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":4,"text":"You may have severe anger issues.","meaning":"When a situation gets tough, you often find yourself seeing red. It feels like just about anything can set you off, whether it\u2019s a difficult conversation, a frustrating situation at work, or even a minor inconvenience.

Living life with so much anger bottled up inside isn\u2019t fair to the people around you\u2014or yourself! In fact, feeling super angry and stressed can lead to long-term physical and mental health issues, like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and more. Anger issues can also make it really tough to connect and communicate with others in a meaningful way, be they friends, co-workers, or even significant others.

Don\u2019t worry, though\u2014there are plenty of ways to take control and manage your anger in healthy and productive ways. Breathing deeply<\/a>, practicing visualization, and counting to 10 are all helpful ways to manage your anger in the moment, while practicing self-care<\/a> and changing negative thought patterns can help you conquer your anger<\/a> in the long-term.

Meeting with a licensed mental health professional can be really helpful if anger frequently disrupts your day-to-day life. Online therapy sites like BetterHelp<\/a><\/b> make it easier than ever to meet with a therapist from the comfort of your home.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Stop-Yelling-when-Angry"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Calm-Down-When-You-are-Angry"}],"link_data":[{"title":"10 Ways to Stop Yelling When You\u2019re Mad","id":9613943,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Stop-Yelling-when-Angry","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Stop-Yelling-when-Angry-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Stop-Yelling-when-Angry-Step-13.jpg","alt":"10 Ways to Stop Yelling When You\u2019re Mad"},{"title":"How to Calm Down When You are Angry","id":2397957,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Calm-Down-When-You-are-Angry","image":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Calm-Down-When-You-are-Angry-Step-21-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Calm-Down-When-You-are-Angry-Step-21-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Calm Down When You are Angry"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""}]" class="quiz_results_data"/>\"Is<\/picture>","alt":"Is My Friend Toxic Quiz"},{"title":"Codependency Quiz","id":13613173,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Relationships\/Codependency-Quiz","image":"\"Codependency<\/picture>","alt":"Codependency Quiz"},{"title":"Emotional Detachment Quiz","id":13684105,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Relationships\/Emotional-Detachment-Test","image":"\"Emotional<\/picture>","alt":"Emotional Detachment Quiz"}],"number":1},{"text":"Good! I'm happy with how we interact.","result":"Great! We have quizzes in other areas you might enjoy, instead:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"What's Your Mindset Quiz","id":13699974,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Whats-Your-Mindset","image":"\"Whats<\/picture>","alt":"What's Your Mindset Quiz"},{"title":"Am I Polyamorous Quiz","id":13363800,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Relationships\/Am-I-Polyamorous-Quiz","image":"\"Am<\/picture>","alt":"Am I Polyamorous Quiz"},{"title":"Love Language Quiz","id":13401673,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Relationships\/Love-Language-Quiz","image":"\"Love<\/picture>","alt":"Love Language Quiz"}],"number":2}]}" class="quiz_questionnaire_data"/>

Anger Issues: A Closer Look

What is anger?
Anger is a normal and valid emotional response that everyone experiences from time to time. In fact, anger can be a healthy response to hurtful, upsetting, or even life-threatening situations. A lot of people feel angry occasionally, but not to an extent that disrupts their day-to-day routines, careers, or relationships.

Types of Anger

  • External anger: Anger displayed in a physical and/or verbal way, like yelling, tossing items around, making threats, slamming doors, and/or hurting others.
  • Internal anger: Anger directed towards the self, displayed in actions like self-harm, self-starvation, and negative thoughts.
  • Non-violent anger: Anger displayed in a subtle or passive-aggressive way, like giving someone the cold shoulder, making snarky/sarcastic comments, or purposefully inconveniencing others.

What are anger issues?
Anger issues occur when anger seriously impacts your everyday life. A person with anger issues feels angry frequently, to a point where their friends, loved ones, and co-workers notice. Their rage seems to supersede any other reactions they might have, to a point where it’s affecting their health overall (e.g., headaches, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, etc.).

Do I have anger issues?
You might have anger issues if your anger frequently impacts your daily life. Think about how you normally behave and react on a day-to-day basis. Does anger heavily influence the way you treat other people, as well as yourself? Are you capable of reacting and responding to different situations with a variety of emotions, or does anger always seem to be front and center? If you can’t seem to break free of anger’s control over your life, you could have anger issues.

Anger Management Tips

  • Breathe deeply when you get upset. Focus on inhaling slowly through your nose and then exhaling slowly as well. Continue breathing in and out slowly—this helps force you to calm down instead of lashing out in the moment.
  • Count up to a number before doing/saying something impulsive. It’s really easy to do or say something that you regret in the heat of the moment. Before you leap into action, count to 10, 20, or any other larger number in your head. This gives you a chance to ground yourself and think things through.
  • Picture something peaceful or relaxing. Where do you feel the most calm and at ease? Whenever you feel angry, picture yourself in that place to give yourself the opportunity to calm down.
  • Head to the sink and splash yourself with cold water. It won’t feel comfortable, but a quick blast of cold water might help you reset your brain and think things through in a more calm and rational light.
  • Approach situations with a sense of humor . While humor isn’t the best response for everything, it can be really helpful to plow through life’s frustrations and inconveniences. The next time you’re feeling especially exasperated or irritated, see if cracking a joke or lightening the mood can help make a difference.
  • Identify and avoid situations that trigger your anger. What types of events tend to set you off the most? Avoiding these situations or approaching them in a new way can be a valuable way to help you manage your anger effectively.
  • Eliminate negative thought patterns. Certain ways of thinking, such as viewing situations in absolutes, jumping to conclusions, and pointing fingers may feed into your more angry instincts. Identifying and changing these thought patterns may help you approach different scenarios with a more balanced mindset.
  • Practice self-care . The more you care for your mental and physical health, the easier it’ll be to cope with angry moments and situations. Getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night, de-stressing with mindfulness meditation , trying progressive muscle relaxation , opening up to a friend, and getting regular exercise are all valuable ways to keep your mind and body in a healthy place.
  • Sign up for anger management classes. Conquering anger on your own can be a stressful and overwhelming experience—but it’s not one you have to deal with alone! Find an anger management class near you, where you’ll receive special training on how to deal with tough anger flare-ups.
  • See a licensed mental health professional. Dealing with anger frequently can be an exhausting experience—but it’s not something you have to handle on your own. A therapist can help you dig deeper into why you’re feeling angry, and help you develop strategies to better cope with your feelings.

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