Days of Healing, Days of Joy.................................................Nov 29th

"Me? I'm not angry about anything."..................................Karen F

The word anger doesn't begin to describe the absolute fury that festers in the hearts of adult children. There probably is no word, in fact, to capture the depth of what we feel. But that inner rage is a potent force in our lives, to say the least, because it is so deeply ingrained as to be invisible. Most of us wouldn't guess it was there if it weren't for the consequences.

Chronic, buried anger often causes dysfunctional behavior. On example is the hair-trigger, hothead reaction to almost anything-a flat tire, a cross word, a child's mistake. Petty slights are an outrage; minor inconveniences are intolerable. Extreme emotionlessness is another expression of repressed rage. Here we get the deadly silent treatment, the unwillingness or inability to respond. Then there are those of us who are simply scared to death of anger in any form and for any reason. Ours is the peace-at-any price, don't-rock-the boat reaction.

The question isn't whether or not we're angry. The question is whether or not we're dealing with it.
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Today, I will express the anger I feel to my Higher Power and another human being.

Anger. It seems all I ever lived with was anger. My birth home was always angry as my parents were continually fighting. We 4 girls were constantly afraid, and hid in our rooms when they fought and it was often. This went on all the years I was home. In my marital home, that was also a violent atmosphere as my husband had a hair-trigger temper, and mine was peace -at-all-costs. I hated confrontation and was terrified of anger. I actually don't handle it well today although my home is very calm compared to what I've lived before! I've also learned that many times anger turns into hurt -- If I'm angry I try to examine the reason I'm hurt and I usually find my answer there.