08/19/2026
One of the most common emotions we’re hearing about right now is anger. People are frustrated, impatient, irritable, and sometimes surprised by how quickly they become upset. If that’s been your experience, you’re not alone.
Anger is not the enemy. It’s a normal human emotion and often serves an important purpose. From a psychological perspective, anger is frequently a secondary emotion. That means it often appears on the surface while deeper emotions—such as fear, grief, hurt, disappointment, helplessness, or uncertainty—are underneath.
After a disaster or prolonged period of stress, our nervous systems are working harder than usual to detect problems and protect what matters most. When something feels threatened—our families, our homes, our community, our values, or our sense of safety—anger can be one of the brain’s ways of mobilizing us to respond.
Anger itself isn’t good or bad. It provides energy and motivation, and it can move us to advocate, rebuild, set healthy boundaries, solve problems, and create meaningful change. The goal isn’t to avoid anger or pretend it isn’t there. The goal is to understand what it’s trying to tell us and to use that energy in ways that reflect our values rather than simply reacting in the moment.
If you’ve found yourself feeling more angry lately, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with you. It may be a sign that something important to you has been impacted. Taking a moment to ask, “What am I trying to protect?” can often provide more clarity than asking, “Why am I so angry?”
~ Sarah Stricker Director ESC/CCP
