September is National Suicide Awareness and Prevention month. In keeping with the topic of mental health, let’s talk about the uncomfortable emotion of anger. Anger is often the mask we wear to hide our deeper, truer emotions/feelings—sadness, loneliness, disappointment, rejection, shame, guilt, fear, etc. It’s okay to feel angry at times (especially the righteous kind)–God created us as emotional beings. But when it becomes part of our daily norm, it gets dangerous. And when we act on it inappropriately, it’s damaging—to those around us and especially to ourselves.
Most are surprised to learn that anger (and it’s precursor, irritability) can be a symptom of a mental health imbalance. Most people think that mental health imbalances only apply to those who cry a lot (depression), those feel their hearts beating out of their chests (panic/anxiety), those who can’t get out of bed, or those who withdraw from others. Nope. Depression and anxiety are just two kinds of imbalances. Pretty sure most of us are walking around with some form of imbalance. Look at the world around us. How can we not be? Good health leads to fruit of the spirit —love, patience, kindness, goodness. Poorly managed, it leads to the opposite.
If you feel irritable or angry a lot, you could have a biochemical imbalance in your hormones and/or neurotransmitters. Low serotonin can cause irritability and anger. So can high testosterone and excitatory neurotransmitters, like epinephrine and dopamine. Bad habits (excessive drinking, drug use, smoking, etc.), life stress, poor diet/exercise, lack of sleep, toxicity, nutritional imbalances, and stressful events can make you feel on edge most of the time. There are lots of physical explanations for why you may feel angry.
Those of you who follow my blog already know where I’m heading next. Yep, anger is also a spirit. The enemy does tremendous damage with this demon, and we make it easy for him. Now, having the righteous kind of anger (feeling noble outrage for the injustices of the world) is perfectly normal, providing you can manage it and not let it negatively affect your behavior. But walking around upset over everything and being confrontational with others (online or in-person) will lead to folly. If you are slow to anger, pat yourself on the back and thank the Lord, because you understand what happens when we let negative emotions take over our souls (mind, thoughts, emotions).
I have dealt with some form of anger, like most people, but not to the degree I have managed sadness and worry, so I can only speak from my limited experience. I get irritable when serotonin drops during monthly hormonal shifts, and if you ask my husband, I’m probably not much fun to be around on those days. Sometimes I will text him at work, give him a heads up that I’m hormonal, and warn him that he needs to proceed with caution when he comes home, lol (we try to make light of it). I do experience righteous anger when the Lord shows me injustices in the world and things that really grieve Him. When I start to feel that kind of anger come over me, I usually go into prayer for whatever He is showing me and then release it back up to Him. Right now, I feel righteous anger over what the enemy is doing to several relationships in my extended family –causing division through the spirits of indifference and apathy (story for another post). I have to take that righteous anger into some serious prayer (and give it to God) so that I don’t allow it to negatively influence my actions.
As I have mentioned before, I discern through feeling (emotions) and often pick up on stuff that people carry around. The Bible calls this a gift from the Holy Spirit, but it’s taken me a long time to appreciate it (trust me, I still struggle). It’s hard to manage, because it usually doesn’t feel good. I have enough emotions of my own, on top of what the Lord wants me to feel on His behalf. I often find myself praying, “Please Lord, no junk from others today!” I try to make light of things when able, because if we don’t find ways to make light of our Christian journeys (in light of all the seriousness), we’ll go batty.
I’ll never forget the anger I picked up from a friend many years ago. It was all-consuming and unsuspecting. We were out to dinner and a show. During the show, things got sentimental, and I placed my hand on her to offer consolation. It was a sweet moment and a great evening. Just girlfriends having dinner, sharing laughs, and being there for each other.
Until I got home and all h#ll broke loose. I just felt off. Within minutes, I started crying hysterically (unusual for me because I’m more of a subdued crier), screaming (which I seldom do), and I felt this out-of-body feeling come over me. I knew what I had in me wasn’t mine, but I was young in my walk with Jesus and didn’t really know what was happening. I didn’t know what to do! Thankfully, the Lord has given me a good Christian husband. In that moment, he took me in his arms and just prayed over me (not out loud, but to himself…so not really sure what he was praying but this man is definitely anointed with the gift of healing). A couple minutes later, I calmed down and felt something lift off me. Then I collapsed into bed for the night.
We carry around stuff, folks. We can pass it to others, knowingly or not. Good and bad.
When it comes to managing an emotion like anger, first take stock of your physical inventory. If you feel irritable often, then it might be time to visit a mental health professional for a consult. There are biochemical imbalances that some people can’t get around –it’s just in the genes and physical make-up. There’s nothing wrong with seeking medical attention—it’s the responsible thing to do. It’s also important to evaluate other things like diet, habits, lifestyle, etc. If you’re struggling with an addiction, anger is going to be forefront in your life.
Physical factors aside, remember that anger can also be a demon/spirit that makes its rounds in the spiritual realm 24-7. Demons don’t discriminate. The spirit of anger can oppress anyone at any given time, including the most kind-hearted, loving person. Pay attention to what’s in your environment and who you’re with. If you’re feeling angry with certain people and in certain situations, then you’ll want to make some changes. And bear in mind, just because a negative demon/spirt may be oppressing someone does not mean that they’re bad and to be avoided. Maybe they just need your prayers and a little distance until the air clears.
The best way to rid the spirt of anger is to confront it head on with prayer and His word. When I pick up anger from someone else, I immediately take it to prayer by praying for that person, repenting/forgiving them if I have taken offense to the parting gift they’ve left me, and make it a point to release the feeling up to the Lord (sometimes I envision giving it to Jesus, who throws it into His all-consuming fire). Anger can also be in generational bloodlines and strongholds in the mind, and there are deliverance exercises you can do in deliverance ministry with an experienced counselor or church leader.
We must be accountable for our thoughts and emotions, because that’s where the enemy likes to attack us the most. Don’t get mad at yourself for being mad. We are human and we sin. The Lord doesn’t want you to stay in anger. Get free from this destructive emotion by casting it out in the name of Jesus and asking Him to fill you with His peace.
