Anger is a normal and natural emotion. One that is felt by everyone at some time. But when does normal spurts of anger become too much anger? What is the difference between just having a short fuse and experiencing the type of uncontrollable rage that requires anger management therapy? In order to determine whether you are too angry and possibly need to seek therapy you need to ask yourself three questions:

How Often Do I Get Angry? If you experience anger frequently, feel unfairly treated by others, or have a generally foul attitude towards the world around you, you may need some form of anger therapy. Usually anger is a symptom of a deeper issue that you either don't recognize or can't cope with. Typically anger is really fear, depression, or nervousness (anxiety) in disguise. Once you analyze the true feeling behind the anger, you can work towards coping with them in a healthier way. Anger should not be an everyday occurrence. If you are finding yourself seething on a daily basis, anger management may be something to look into.

How Intense Is My Anger? Not only is the frequency of anger a sign of needing anger management, the intensity of the anger can also be a deciding factor. If your anger rages out of control, even if some amount of anger is justified, you may be too angry. There has been some statistical evidence that shows people who grow up in families with poor communication skills and a lack of structure are more prone to need help dealing with their anger as adults. If the severity of your anger is such that after you are done raging, you feel ashamed, embarrassed, or even unsure of why you got so mad over something so minor, you should consider participating in some sort of anger management. In the event that your bouts of rage ever lead to blackouts, seek therapy immediately.

How Do I Act When I Get Angry? Naturally the biggest factor to determining whether or not you need anger management is what you actually do when you get angry. If you yell, throw things, or become physically violent towards others, you should set up an appointment to talk to a professional since it is likely that your anger is out of control. An opposite, but no less harmful, response can be to turn the anger inward and become self-loathing or depressed. This internal rage can lead to self-destructive behavior and should cause you to seek out professional help as quickly as if you experienced the external rage that is more frequently associated with anger management.

The answers of these questions will get you started towards understanding whether or not you need some sort of treatment for your anger problems. The main question you need to ask, though, is whether or not your anger negatively affects your life. Even if you only get out of control angry once in a while; if it hurts your family, yourself, your relationships, or your professional life, you need to seek out help. Anger is normal, natural and healthy; frequent anger, severe anger, and anger that ends up in violence or abuse is not.

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Jennifer Carpenter is a work at home mother of three, two teens and a preschooler. She is a writer and Internet marketer who is currently working towards financial freedom through working online. Read more about her incredible journey at http://www.livingmybigdream.com