Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Anger is "All the Rage" these days

As an Anger Management Facilitator at Daybreak Counseling Services in Santa Monica, CA, for several years, I have watched the level of anger, rage and resentment rise in the general population and most certainly in political and financial affairs throughout the country. Stories abound of out-of-control anger to murderous rage. An angry Connecticut man strangled his dog when the dog urinated on his leg. In another article it was published that a man in Philadelphia threw scalding hot coffee in the face of a donut shop owner when she questioned whether or not he paid $2.40 for his muffin. A 14-year-old boy in Alabama recently hung his 12-year-old sister from a rope when she made him angry. In New York City a man punched a young female in the face over a parking space. In Little Rock, Arkansas yesterday, a newlywed husband shot to death his pregnant wife of one week. It would appear that our whole culture is in need of “anger management!” From the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida to hundreds since (only 9 weeks later) we are constantly reading about knives, guns, violence and unbridled rage. Why? What is going on? Some say it is simply that that the Internet has given us more access to the news. I am not sure what is causing more and more people to act out their fury and do the damage they do. It is utterly horrifying and speaks to the general corruption of our society’s moral fiber. I am blessed to have the opportunity to help clients at Daybreak Counseling Services with their anger management challenges. Clients who attend are either mandated by the courts, or come voluntarily because their anger has had a negative effect on their lives and relationships. It has been said: “You don’t need to do great things. Do small things in a great way”. Keeping our anger in check and a head-on commitment to peace and dignity in our own lives can guarantee our personal contribution to the benevolence and harmony so crucially needed in our country. Susan Levy MA Daybreak Counseling Service 3301 Ocean Park Blvd #111 Santa Monica CA 90405 http://daybreakservices.com 855-NO ANGER 855-662-6437