Anger, stress and trauma: What are the differences?
What are the differences between anger, stress and trauma? If you are focused on addressing your emotional concerns, which can be related to any of the above, you may want to know and appreciate their differences. Frequent, intense and/or uncontrollable anger, stress and issues surrounding a history of trauma are often indicators of something more.
Anger
Anger can be a normal, human emotional reaction that everyone will experience from time to time. It can be a reaction that is experienced when you have been wronged or offended. It is also regarded as a secondary emotion as it can often be anchored to another emotion such as fear, worry, fear, disrespect, or rejection. It may also be a defensive reaction when you feel threatened.
There are a whole range of emotions involving anger. It may range from a slight irritation to harder-to-control, furious rage. When anger becomes more complicated it is often associated with violence. If you find yourself having difficulty managing anger, or it is related to other emotional issues, you may benefit from attending to your anger, preferably with a professional.
Stress
Like anger, stress can be said to be a normal reaction or a response to varying levels of pressure, specifically to stressors. It can come as a “part-and-parcel of life,” implying it is a daily occurrence regardless of your age, race, profession, and/or economic status. Scientists have found it to defy definition stress can be a highly subjective phenomenon. The world uses the word “stress” to refer to anything that may feel to be too much to handle.
Technically, stress is triggered by a stressor, which can be anything- events, situations, people, disease, etc. The most common sources of stress tend to be daily events such as danger (survival stress), worries (internal stress), environment, fatigue and/or feeling overworked. Intense feelings or reactions to stressors are often indicators of something more such as; adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety etc.
Trauma
Trauma is related to experiencing traumatic events that can be life-changing and/or life threatening. Some examples are a vehicular accident, sudden death or an incurable illness afflicting loved one, witnessing a vicious crime, becoming a victim of violence, threat of violence, threat to a person’s safety/physical integrity etc.
A person experiencing intrusive symptoms related to trauma may exhibit shock and denial immediately after. In the course of time, the reactions can range from flashbacks, panic attacks, strained relationships as well as physical symptoms. Some individuals can have difficulty moving on without the services of a therapist.
Working Through Anger, Stress and Trauma
Even though stress and anger can be normal responses, they can affect an individual’s psyche and physical health. Stress and anger stimulate the secretion of hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline and cortisol cause the heart to beat faster increasing your levels of energy; the “fight-and-flight response.” Experiencing these emotions too often can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels. Meanwhile, trauma can cause serious emotional problems that may prevent a person from moving forward and enjoying a productive life.
Working through these emotional responses can be important. If anger, stress and trauma are negatively impacting your life, don’t ignore this, you may be experiencing depression or anxiety. Call Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC to begin tackling your distress, anger and/or traumatic experiences. Licensed, independently contracted therapists are available, call today.
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