Many
strong and out-of-control emotions are recognized as an illness. People who are
always very sad have depression (抑郁癥); those who worry a lot have anxiety.
But
what about anger problems? Anger is largely viewed as a secondary emotion – one
caused by other emotions. People are thought to be angry because they are sad,
anxious or stressed. In the past, many doctors didn’t accept the idea that
anger could be a problem all on its own.
Today,
though, a growing number of mental health experts think that anger is a serious
problem that needs its own treatment.
How to
tell the difference between “normal” anger and “anger problem” is difficult.
After all, everyone gets really mad from time to time. Experts point out a few
ways.
Disordered
anger, as it is sometimes called, tends to be of greater intensity (強(qiáng)度). It takes very little
to set off a person with an anger problem, and their responses (反應(yīng)) are very strong. An example: While most people would get upset if
a driver cut them off, someone with disordered anger might try to chase down
the car and force it off the road.
And in
cases of disordered anger, the person gets angry more frequently and his/her
anger lasts longer. For most people, angry feelings disappear quickly. But
people with anger problems often stay angry for days, weeks or even years;
their feelings of anger don’t disappear over time.
Consequences are also important to consider:
Disordered anger often damages people’s lives. “It interferes (干擾) with people’s
relationships and their jobs,” says Raymond Chip Tafrate, a US psychologist.
“Even their health is affected.”
Anger
clearly increases the risk of certain health problems, as many studies have
shown. “When a person is angry, their heart beats faster and their blood
pressure goes up,” says Howard Kassinove, a professor at Hofstra University in
New York. Over time, these changes take their toll on the body, he adds.
Experts
suggest that people with an anger problem take anger-management programs. The
programs teach people to control their responses to stressful situations
through the use of relaxation techniques. The programs sometimes include
life-skills training as well: increasing someone’s level of competence (競爭)– whether on the job or
as a parent or partner – helps bring down stress and cut angry feelings.
1. A person who _________ most possibly has
disordered anger in the experts’ opinion?
A. can’t
get out of anger quickly
B. is dissatisfied
with relationships
C. has
high blood pressure
D. is worried
about his job
2. What does the underlined word Consequences
mean?
A. Responses. B. Effects.
C. Reasons. D. Feelings
3.Which of the following is TRUE
according to the passage?
A. Anger is an secondary emotion
that makes people sad and stressed.
B. Anger was recognized as an
illness by most doctors in the past.
C. A person with an anger problem
gets angry more often and easily.
D. The use of relaxation
techniques is the best way to manage anger.
4. What is the best title of the
passage?
A. Can anger be an illness?
B. Is it disordered anger?
C. Can anger influence our life?
D. Is anger
management important?
