Chapter 2 - sample of new online course

ANGER'S MANY FACES © copyright 2006 by Lynette J. Hoy, NCC, LCPC & Ted Griffin, Editor/writer

Anger, though potentially harmful, can be transformed into a positive force accomplishing great good in our lives.
Ted Griffin and Lynette Hoy

L ynette's Story

I can remember the day one of my sisters came home with a suspension slip for throwing an orange in the lunchroom. My father dragged her upstairs to the attic. There were loud noises, yelling, and crying. She limped down the stairs, bloody and bruised.

I can remember the beatings in the basement with a board, my father’s rage, the pain and the fear.

I can remember experiencing a “cold shoulder” for days when I would disappoint someone in my family.

I can remember my husband and I up in the attic of our second-story rented flat, two weeks after our daughter was born, screaming at each other and throwing things. I don’t remember what caused the anger or why it hurt so much. But I experienced anger’s pain, inner wounds, and loneliness.

I learned that anger was something to be feared, that it was cruel, loud, cold, silent, resentful, and threatening.

Ted’s Story

I have long feared anger—my father’s and my own. My dad, an alcoholic who’s drinking kept him from connecting with his family, had a quiet anger. He didn’t beat us or yell at us for hours—he just sort of ignored us. My anger—which was really years’ worth of bitterness toward Dad—became violent, abusive and dangerous, especially after my father died and I couldn’t express my anger to the one I was really mad at because he wasn’t around anymore.

Looking back, I am ashamed of many of the things I said and did at that stage of my life. And I thank God for helping me forgive my father and learn how to be kind to my family—a family I almost lost because of my rage. Not all anger is wrong, but when it’s like mine was, only God can keep the individual and his family from going over the cliff. The journey hasn’t been easy or quick, but God has sustained me every step of the way, and He continues to do so. Not everyone turns to faith to deal with their anger, but that is what made the difference in my life.

All of us have experienced anger. Some of us have cringed under the rage in our families, struggled with it in our souls, felt it toward our friends and loved ones. Some of us have shocked others with volcanoes of anger.

But anger is not just a personal enemy. The evidence abounds that we live in a mad, mad, mad world. Statistics from American Demographics tell us:

• 23% of Americans admit they openly express their anger.

• 39% say they hold it in or hide it.

• 23% say they walk away from the situation.

• 23% confess to having hit someone in anger.

• 17% admit they have destroyed the property of someone who made them mad.

We want to demonstrate to you that anger, though potentially harmful, is a complex emotion we can come to understand and a positive force that can accomplish great good in our lives.

What Is Anger? What triggers anger? How does stress affect anger? How can you effectively manage anger and improve your relationships? Find out by ordering the complete and newly revised online course. You will have access to reading the rest of this chapter and book, the online, interactive progress reports and exam and then, receive a certificate of completion!

Take this survey to measure your level of anger!

View more partial readings of chapters four and six.

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What's Good About Anger? Second Edition - Table of Contents:
Chapter One: Anger Survey and Progress Report
Chap. 2: Anger's Many Faces;
Chap. 3: The Power of Anger;
Chap. 4: When Anger is Good;
Chap. 5: Defusing Anger by Managing Stress;
Chap. 6: Handling Anger Effectively;
Chap. 7: Anger and Assertiveness;
Chap. 8: Managing Conflict;
Chap. 9: Turn Your Anger into Forgiveness;
Chap. 10: When to Take a Time-Out;
Chap. 11: Cognitive Distortions;
Chap. 12: Log Your Thinking;
Chap. 13: Plan to Change Your Life by Changing Your Thinking;
Chap. 14: Summary

Instructions for Use
Anger Inventory
Anger Log
Calendar for change
Typical Provocation Scenario
Final exam
Progress report