I was angry yesterday. I actually threw a pad of paper across the room (not at T, he was sitting next to me on the couch). The feelings were just too big. I was overwhelmed.

I was kind of in my own world, but I could hear T next to me saying "you're angry. you're angry at the things that people do to other people" or something like that. Kind of naming my emotions for me, like I do for my kids.

When I've been angry AT T, he's never ever EVER been angry back at me. He has been frustrated, concerned, confused, apologetic, etc...but he always tells me how he's feeling and explains it so I can understand it.

He has been angry FOR me at times when I haven't been angry (yet) myself. He has been angry at the ways people have treated me, and he has said so. It helps me to hear and see his anger, because it shows me that what happened might actually be worthy of anger. It makes a little part of my brain wake up that I've SO shut down. I don't usually get angry (not right away, for sure), but the possibility is suddenly there.