anger

[Mary80]

a question...
how do you treat repressed anger? I realized that I still have anger repressed for an event happened a few years ago .. I thought I was free, because I wrote a lot and used ISTDP model , but yesterday while I was talking about this event with a friend I felt some feelings ..first of all...I felt warm ( my anger..) but soon after I felt anxiety...and then I understood ... I was holding back , so I repressed my anger. Do you have any suggestions?
thanks

 

[Andy Bayliss]

What you're doing is wonderful, just as it is. Anger needs to felt, inquired into again and again. Your anger is probably not something which can be "done." Your self-awareness is a loving attunement, which understands anger, anxiety, etc. without judgement. If there is judgement, or a need to "not be angry" this is usually the superego.

 

[Mary80]

thanks for the answer Andy B, so don't you think it's sort of anger repressed and blocked by my fear?
I remember that I thought .." I'm talking about this and I'm feeling anger (ok just anger) but ..but ..oh god I'm feeling bad..again "and then it's over..so I thought maybe I did not bring out all the repressed anger with the istp model about this event which was very painful for me..to the point of making me sick even now.

 

[Andy Bayliss]

It sounds like there is resistance to feeling the anger fully. You know the barrier: fear. Watch for Inner Critic activity (superego). This can feel like fear also. And know that this is a process, not an end goal. You have a lot of awareness, which serves you. Every time the anger comes up, link it in your mind to symptoms, and know that it does not have to "go away.' This is "thinking psychologically." Your fear that you're not doing it well enough, or deep enough can be observed, rather than believed.

 

[Mary80]

Yes I Think the same and I do not overcome this trauma ...my emotions are strong and I resist them ...again. My inner critic has so much fun.I have a long way.

Thank you

 

[Duggit]

Regarding anger under the ISTDP model, this is from Nat Kuhn MD, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: A Reference p. 70: "[M]any patients will ruminate on anger and resentment to avoid feelings of sadness and loss." Any any rate, in ISTDP feeling anger is the beginning, not the end, of the process.