Sometimes we slouch into feelings, looking for comfort.

People talk a lot about this with pity parties.  Y’know—just sitting around, feeling sorry for yourself.

It’s funny, though—other, louder feelings can sometimes bring us comfort, too.

Take anger, for instance.

Sometimes we use anger to help us keep boundaries.

Or we use it to hide hurt feelings.

People often talk about how anger can be a pain in the ass.

It’s a feeling that can get us into trouble, doing and saying things we shouldn’t.

But anger can also feel good and can actually achieve some rather interesting things, if expressed appropriately.

Let’s look at some of the creative ways we use this prickly emotion.

How anger is helpful

Sometimes we use anger to escape other painful, more vulnerable feelings.

Feelings like sadness, shame, guilt, or fear.

For many, anger feels more powerful.  More potent.  More active.

It’s a useful feeling that often signals when something has gone wrong.

Like aspirin for a headache, anger can dampen or override some of the body’s other feelings and reactions.

In fact, anger might just help you muscle through a tough break up or layoff.

Anger could give you the resolve you need to stick to your plan.  To do what you said you would do, even though it’s hard.

But if you have to be careful.

How anger is hurtful

Too much anger can crowd out other feelings.

If you favor anger over your other emotions, you’ll find a bunch of feelings waiting for you, plus interest, that can burst like a dam at precisely the wrong moment.

Too much anger keeps you hunkered down in a defensive position.

It makes it hard to reflect on what you’re doing and whether or not it is working.

And as we all know, anger can be deeply destructive when there is too much of it, or when it is used to bully or frighten others.

Just remember, there are many benefits to this emotion.  It’s all about how much you have, and how you express it.

So, maybe you’ll be chummy with your anger during a tough time.

Maybe it will give you the time and space you need to recover after feeling wounded.

Just remember you’ve got other feelings that need air time, too.