Pissed off? Yeah, there’s a lot of that going around. Of over 34,000 18 years and older adults in the U.S, 7.8% displayed “inappropriate, intense, or poorly controlled anger”. In the UK, over 30% of those polled reported knowing someone close to them who has difficulty controlling their anger. And yet, not even a seventh of those people seek help.
Anger is natural and to be expected in stressful and/or emotional situations. But when it leaves our control, is difficult to regulate, and drives people to extreme or violent behavior they later regret, it becomes a problem for everybody. Unchecked anger can lead to higher blood pressure and numerous cardiovascular problems, and can also lead to many emotional and social consequences as well, like domestic abuse, threats, and property damage.
Anger should not – the stoics non-withstanding — be ignored. Suppressing our anger can lead to mental disorders like anxiety and depression, after all. What would be best would be some way to release and process our anger in an appropriate, safe manner – an answer that can be found in this review. To help you manage your anger and raise your emotional IQ, here are five great podcasts for your consideration.
All podcasts available wherever you get your podcasts
Straight and to the point, follow the personal journey of Matthew Plotner and listen to his advice on how to rationalize and manage the angers of daily life. Find out how he has used Buddhism to approach life with more compassion and helpfulness than hate, and become a less angry person.
2. Anger Management with Nick Chegg
A former Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Chegg analyses anger from his unique perspective in the world of politics. Listen to him discuss hot topics from Trump to Brexit, populism to fascism, and everything in between with esteemed guests like George Osborn, Magrethe Vestager, and Joe Biden, former Vice President and current 47th President of the United States.
As most anger problems are rooted in other, underlying conditions, such as extreme stress, it makes sense that taking care of the root of the problem will help you sort out your anger too. This weekly podcast hosted Dr. Zoe Webb, a clinical psychologist, and Dr. Ben Webb, a neuroscientist, tackles a wide variety of mental health issues and strategies, helping you be a healthier and more content person.
4. I Love Anger
In bite-sized episodes of sound advice and lessons from anger management specialist Issac Rowe, this podcast helps you do exactly as the title says: learn to appreciate and manage your anger. Inspirational and energetic, these teachings and mentalities can be easily integrated into everyday life for some quick and effective relief for your anger issues.
This two-time British Podcast Award winner is another great short and informative series on anger, digging deep into what it really is, how it can be defined and measured, and how it can be used and felt. A ‘historian of emotion’, your host Thomas Dixon also presents various audio dramas with themes of anger, as well as discussing with other historians and psychologists on anger’s place in our past. Only eight episodes long, but full of fascinating knowledge and thoughtful discussion – you’ll want to make this a staple in your library and share it with your wingmen.