The relationship between anger and anxiety

Anger and anxiety may feel like they sit on opposing ends of the emotional spectrum, but they can actually be close allies— especially in men.

Anxiety is a mental, emotional, and physiological expression of overwhelm, panic, or fear. It can show up in both excessive and deficient ways: leaving you feeling lethargic, or conversely, hyper-aroused and on high alert. Anger, on the other hand, is an emotional response often experienced as a rush of energy that springs into action to protect you when something feels threatening. However, anger can linger long after the initial trigger, becoming a persistent residue of unresolved emotion. Like all emotions, anger remains in our system when we don’t fully process and release it.  

How do anxiety and anger connect?  

Anxiety is highly triggering to the nervous system, leading to dysregulation. When this dysregulation reaches a tipping point, we often default to a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response (more on these in a future post). For some, the fight response comes most naturally, and anger becomes the outlet for discharging anxious energy from a dysregulated system. This tends to occur when a person feels trapped or struggles to articulate and process their emotions.  

The connection deepens as anger and anxiety feed into one another. An angry outburst can heighten anxiety, which further dysregulates the nervous system. Without healthy coping mechanisms, this creates a feedback loop where anger serves as both a release and a trigger, perpetuating the cycle.  

How Hypnotherapy Can Help  

Hypnotherapy offers a unique path to untangle the roots of anger and anxiety. By gently guiding you into your subconscious, it creates a safe space to explore these emotions without judgment. You can begin to process, understand, and release the tension that has built up over time. Instead of avoiding these emotions, hypnotherapy helps you see them as signals: anger may be asking for boundaries to be set, and anxiety may be calling for your attention and care.  

Through this work, you can learn to distinguish anger from anxiety, understanding each emotion on its own terms. This newfound clarity helps you reconnect with a sense of inner peace and builds resilience. Anger and anxiety stop being problems to fix and start becoming sources of insight and strength—guiding you toward a more grounded, integrated self.  

If cycles of anger and anxiety feel overwhelming, hypnotherapy can be a powerful ally in breaking free. By addressing the underlying patterns and reconnecting with your inner calm, you can step into a healthier, more empowered version of yourself.  

Take Control of Your Anxiety Today

Ready to tackle your anxiety today? There are three options.

Download my free lead magnet here.

Drop me an email at hello@laurenwigmore.co.uk to schedule a session.

Or sign up to my 6 week rapid reset hypnotherapy (launching late December)