Anger is one of our most primitive human emotions.  When anger is triggered, a flight or fight response occurs.  Anger can be both helpful and hurtful.  Anger and rage can become an addictive behavior.  The individual becomes addicted to the expression of their anger and rage and the associated feelings of power and control.  Rage triggers an area of the brain known as the Limbic System – more specifically the Amygdala - igniting physiological changes in the Central Nervous System.  Ultimately, the individual feels a “rush” or a “high” from these changes and learns to control the environment with their displays of anger and rage.  This process becomes self stimulating and becomes the central emotion experienced by the individual.  Most all other emotions are masked or experienced through the emotion of anger.

Behaviors of a rageaholic may include but are not limited to:

·       Verbal aggression

·       Staring to intimidate

·       Cursing

·       Name calling

·       Threatening behavior and verbalizations

·       Pointing

·       Yelling

·       Sarcasm

·       Throwing things

·       Physical aggression

·       Telling stories of their power, anger and control of others

·       Eye rolling

·       Criticizing

·       Degrading others

·       Road Rage

·       Unpredictable behavior

·       Denial of the problem

·       Preoccupied with resentments

·       Fantasies of revenge

·       Mixing of anger with substance use

For more information visit: http://www.rage-anon.org/