The Somatics of Being Pissed Off

Maybe you’ve been ANGRY?!?

At people and systems in power.

At that person who cut you off in traffic.

At someone in your life who was careless with you.

At something from your past that still stings.

Anger is part of our natural self protection response—it can be necessary and life saving.

Oftentimes we are lacking in ways to EXPERIENCE our anger. We might try to push it on someone else or just ignore it because it’s scary or uncomfortable.

Here are a few ways to physically BE WITH your anger, your life force energy that wants to defend you.

1. WALK. Go for a walk. Mutter to yourself about what you’re pissed about as you walk. Swing your arms around as you walk. Just moving around and being outside can help this energy flow through your body instead of getting stuck or building and building.

2. PUSH. Find a sturdy wall. Facing the wall, plant your feet firmly with one foot forward and one foot back. Let yourself feel the energy of your anger rise up, into your arms. Push push push against the wall for a few seconds. The wall can handle your push! Then let go and rest. Track andy differences you notice. Repeat pushing a few times if you want. Feel the difference before you pushed to after.

3. VOO or HUM. I like to tap on my sternum and make a low, growling hum. You could also make a VOO sound by breathing into your belly, then make the sound of VOOOO for the entire breath out. Rest after one round and see if you want to go again, a few times. The vibration of the tapping, humming, or voo sound helps to meet and physicalize the active anger energy. Again, track what you notice before and after.

4. TWIST or SQUEEZE. Use a pillow or towel. Feel the anger rise up into your arms. Squeeze or twist the towel or corner of the pillow. Get to the point of some resistance. Twist twist twist. Then let go. Rest. See if you want to repeat a few times. Track what you notice.

As you practice being with the physical experience of anger, you grow your capacity to experience this emotion. Then in time, anger isn’t as scary or difficult. It’s just another emotion you can be with.

Try it and let me know how it goes. As always, I’m here to honor your intelligent nervous system, anger and all.