Does Venting Your Anger Really Make You Feel Better?

​


Most of us have been told that when we are feeling mad we should let our anger out. People say things like yell into a pillow or hit a punching bag to get rid of frustration. This idea seems to make sense because it is like when you have a bottle that's too full and you need to open it.

What psychology says is very different. It is surprising that venting anger does not actually calm you down. In fact venting anger usually makes you even angrier.


#  The Popular "Venting" Myth


A time ago, people thought that if you let out strong emotions, you would feel better. This was called the catharsis theory. Because of this idea, many people think that it is helpful to do things like the following:


• Yell when you are angry


• Hit things


• Throw things


• Say mean things about someone


It feels like you are getting rid of tension. The feeling of relief does not usually last.


• What Psychology Research Actually Shows





Studies have shown that when you vent anger by doing things, it can actually make you more aggressive. When you yell or hit something, your body gets more excited. Your heart beats faster. Your brain thinks more about what made you angry.

Of feeling calmer, your brain is actually practising being angry. The more you react aggressively, the easier it is to do it. In other words, venting can teach your brain to stay angry.


  •Why Venting Can Backfire




There are reasons why venting can make anger worse:


1. It Makes Anger Stronger

When you act aggressively, you make the connection between anger and aggressive behaviour stronger.


2. It Keeps You Thinking About What Made You Angry

Rather than forgetting about what made you angry, venting keeps you thinking about it.


3. It Gets Your Body More Excited

Aggressive actions make your body's stress response go up, making it harder to relax.


    •What Actually Helps Calm Anger


Research says that calming strategies work better than venting anger. Some healthier ways to deal with anger include:


- Taking a break: Walking away from the situation gives your brain time to calm down.


- Breathing: slowing your breathing helps reduce stress.


- Moving your body: going for a walk or exercising can get rid of tension without making you more aggressive.


- Thinking about the situation: thinking about why you're angry often makes the anger less strong.


These methods work because they calm you down instead of getting you more excited.





   • The Real Takeaway


Feeling angry is normal. It is an emotion. How we deal with anger is important.

While venting anger might feel good for a moment, psychology says that it often keeps anger alive instead of making it go away. Learning to calm down and respond peacefully is much better for your well-being.

Sometimes the best way to deal with anger is not to let it out at all. It is to let anger settle down.


For more content stay connected with Psychology: Myth vs Reality by 

Tanya Kakkar 



https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0hqff54/feeling-angry-venting-doesn-t-actually-help


https://youtube.com/shorts/d7i6L_Aj368?si=a1dl93TIgrkmaibK




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Debunking the 10% Brain Myth: What Science Says About How Our Brain Works

Image
​ For a time people have been fascinated by the idea that  humans only use 10% of their brain . This idea is really interesting. It makes us think that there is a lot of hidden potential in our brain just waiting to be used. Many movies, motivational speakers and self-help books have talked about the 10% brain myth much that a lot of people think it is true. The truth is, the 10% brain myth is not true. Let us break down the 10% brain myth and see where it came from. -Where Did the 10% Brain Myth Come From? Nobody knows for sure where the 10% brain myth started. Experts think it might have come from some research on the brain from a long time ago. Some psychologists said that people do not use their brain to its potential meaning we can learn and grow more. Over time people started to think that this meant we only use 10% of our brain. The 10% brain myth was repeated in magazines, talks and popular culture. It became one of the common myths about the brain. -What Science Actually S...
Read more

The Dangerous Stereotype of Linking Mental Illness to Violence

Image
When people hear the phrase 'illness', it is often paired with fear. This is not right. Movies, headlines and social media have painted a picture of illness that's not true. They show people with health issues as unpredictable or even dangerous.  This is not just wrong; it is also very hurtful.  -Where did this idea come from?   Popular culture has played a role in creating this misconception. We see it in crime dramas and news stories; they often link ill ness to violence. This creates a picture in people's minds that's not true. Over time people start to think that mental illness and violence go together. -The truth is very different Most people with illness are not violent. Research shows that most people with health issues are not violent. In fact, they are more likely to be misunderstood or treated unfairly. They are also more likely to be victims of violence. Mental health conditions like anxiety or depression do not make someone aggressive or dangerous. These...
Read more

Memory Does Not Work Like a Video Recorder

Image
​ A lot of people think that our brain records memories like a camera records a video. They think that when we remember something we just play it back exactly as it happened. This sounds like it makes sense. Sometimes memories feel really vivid. You might remember what you wore on a day or what someone said during a fight. You might even remember the moment you got some exciting news. Because these memories feel so real, it is easy to think that they are stored perfectly in our minds. The way psychology sees it is very different.     • Memory Is Like Rebuilding, Not Recording Our brain does not store memories like a video file. Instead it stores pieces of what happened, like how we felt, what we saw, what we heard and what it meant. When we remember something, our brain puts these pieces together to make the memory. So remembering is not like playing back a video; it is like rebuilding a scene from little parts. Because of this, memories can change over time. Each time we reme...
Read more