Welcome to the first episode in our series exploring the many facets of anger. Today, we want to emphasize that anger itself is not bad. It's a natural, healthy emotion designed to enhance our chances of survival. In fact, without anger, we probably wouldn't have made it this far as a species — it helps us protect ourselves and assert boundaries when we're threatened.

Anger's core purpose is to keep us safe and prevent others from harming us. However, when anger becomes excessive or uncontrollable, it can turn destructive.

Many of us carry childhood traumas that shape our perception of others. These past wounds can lead us to interpret people's words or actions as threats, even when none exist. We might make negative assumptions about their intentions and feel a strong urge to defend ourselves against imagined dangers.

At times, we may feel small or powerless, believing we need to yell or lash out to be heard and respected. But instead of resolving conflicts, this often causes pain for others and triggers their anger in return.

When this happens, we can unintentionally create a cycle of negativity that keeps us from building the closeness we desire with the people we care about most.