The difference between suppression and control of anger lies in how emotion is managed and expressed. Here's a breakdown:
Suppression of Anger Definition: Pushing anger down or denying it exists, without dealing with the root cause. Behavior: Pretending not to be angry or bottling it up. Short-term Effect: May avoid immediate conflict. Long-term Effect: Can lead to stress, anxiety, resentment, depression, or even explosive outbursts later. Example: Someone insults you, and you smile and say “it’s fine” while seething inside and never expressing your feelings. Control of Anger Definition: Recognizing and managing anger in a healthy, constructive way. Behavior: Staying calm, thinking before reacting, and expressing anger appropriately. Short-term Effect: Allows you to handle situations more rationally. Long-term Effect: Improves relationships, mental health, and self-awareness. Example: Someone insults you, and you take a moment to breathe, then say, “I didn’t appreciate that comment,” calmly and assertively. Which is better? Between suppression and control of anger, control is clearly the better approach. Here's an analysis with reasons: Why Control of Anger Is Better Than Suppression 1. Mental and Emotional Health Control allows you to process anger in a healthy way, reducing stress and emotional overload. Suppression stores unresolved anger inside, which can lead to anxiety, depression, or even physical health problems (like high blood pressure or heart issues). Example: Controlled anger might lead to a productive conversation. Suppressed anger may result in sleepless nights or emotional numbness. 2. Healthy Relationships Control encourages clear, assertive communication, which improves trust and mutual respect in relationships. Suppression often results in passive-aggressive behavior or emotional withdrawal, which can confuse or hurt others. Example: Telling a friend you were hurt by something they said (in a calm way) opens the door to understanding. Hiding your anger might lead to secretly resenting them and damaging the friendship. 3. Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution Control uses anger as a signal that something is wrong, prompting constructive action or boundary-setting. Suppression avoids conflict at the cost of letting problems fester and grow. Example: In a workplace, controlled anger might lead to a request for fair treatment. Suppressed anger might build up until you eventually quit or lash out. 4. Self-Respect and Personal Growth Control is a sign of emotional maturity and self-awareness. Suppression often involves denying your feelings, which can harm your sense of identity or make you feel powerless. Suppressing anger teaches you to ignore your needs. Controlling it teaches you to honor them without harming others. Controlling anger doesn’t mean pretending you're never angry — it means responding rather than reacting, in a way that’s healthy for both you and others. Suppressing anger may feel easier in the moment, but it has long-term emotional and relational costs. K Rajaram IRS 4925 On Thu, 4 Sept 2025 at 04:35, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]> wrote: > To control the Anger - Many answers are in place and the one such > important is - *Just Pause and breathe*Often we react to conflict > immediately with either an attack or defense. When we can take a moment to > breathe and calm those hormones flooding through our bodies, we can make a > more considered response. Taking deep breaths triggers the parasympathetic > nervous system, which calms us down. > > > *N Jambunathan , Chennai " What you get by achieving your goals is not as > important as what you become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a > happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things "* > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooXwx9ZQngdRAzjE-eL5ZOuks4GfSkJW2B_rU8GpFvDbQ%40mail.gmail.com.
