Why are we angry? Why are we depressed? Where does anger come from? Where will it go? How do we get rid of anger?

These questions may be haunting, especially if you are prone to emotional outbursts or suffering from depression. Today, we will briefly discuss this topic on anger.

Anger comes from unfulfilled expectations. In psychology terms, we are born with anger. An example would be a child throws tantrum fits because he couldn’t convince his parents to buy his favorite toy. In this example, the unfulfilled expectation is that the child expects his parents to buy the toy for him. However, this expectation is not fulfilled because his parents refused to buy the toy. Therefore, the child gets angry, and the anger manifests itself as tantrum.

Now, the problem is, unlike our previous example, some expectations can be unrealistic. This is especially true for some of us on this online community, hoping to become popular overnight, by all means if possible. However, this is an unrealistic expectation, and cannot be fulfilled. This is the root cause of many problems when it comes to socializing among other people in this community. Anger stirs up hate and strife among us, resulting from hurling insults and threats at each other to large-scale drama or war.

Anger has a hidden from of itself: Depression.

Depression is, in fact, anger turned inwards. Many of us live with depression and do not know what causes it. Some people, instead of letting our anger at other people, turn anger at themselves. Depressed people keeps the anger within themselves, and the anger turns bitter, and bitterness turns into depression. For example, some people tend to complain about how their life is messed up, sad, or just plain unhappy. This is actually a cry for help. However, many of us chose to ignore them, or even label them as “emo” – a term to describe people who are always depressed, constantly injuring themselves, or even attempted suicide. Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling sad or unhappy, you start hating yourself? This is the exact same problem we are discussing.

Don’t give in to anger or depression. Fight it!
We need to give help of those who are angry or depressed. What may appear to be just another sad journal may be a cry for help. We refuse to let them suffer alone!
Here are some tips:

1. Try to give constructive comments.
2. Do not label them as “emo” or “antisocial”.
3. Keep a discerning eye. A comment placed in the wrong place in the wrong time can stir up drama.
4. Pass on the positive message.
5. Kind words cost little, but accomplish much.

Thank you for reading!