My Angry Imagination

by Steve M. Nash
(Yorkshire, UK)

Okay, first thing I'd like to say is that my imagination is much less angry than it used to be. I've got into meditation, I've seen a therapist, and I've also started to look at life differently. Which is all good.

Next thing I'm going to say is that what I'm going to share with you is personal, and not necessarily something I've shared with many people. But I happen to think that it's good to share. So here I am...


So...I have an angry imagination. And what do I mean by that? Well I mean that I can imagine certain situations - and my favourite is being confronted by a group of men who want to harm me - and I then imagine just how I'd respond in the situation. And my response is usually full of rage, anger and violence.

I fight like a madman, drawing on great reservoirs of inner rage - so goes my imagination - and I either scare off my adversaries with my 'madness' or I go down fighting.

This is happening much less than it used to, if at all. Therapy, and understanding my anger, has helped a great deal.

These imaginative 'angry stories' may well be triggered by some irritating event, or some angry stare by another man. Or I could be feeling vulnerable. Quite often a residue of anger is left inside me, once I snap myself out of the story.

I've never enacted any of these stories for real. Though, once, a drunken angry man barged into me whilst I was just walking down the street with my girlfriend (with whom I'd just finished arguing with). For a moment I squared up to this man - probably more frightened than me - but good sense prevailed (and the anxiety of my girlfriend), and we just carried on walking.

Which is good to know - that imagination does not necessarily become reality! But, as I said earlier, I never felt completely comfortable with this angry imagination of mine, and it was one of the main reasons I sought therapy in the first place.

Personally, I think anger management is much misunderstood, and much under-utilized. And it's great that Dr. DeFoore has created such a helpful, positive anger management resource.

Cheers,

Steve

Self Help Collective




Response from Dr. DeFoore

Hello Steve, and thanks for telling your story here. I really like what you've written, and I think it will be helpful to other site visitors.

The whole topic of using your imagination to "problem solve" is fascinating, and can actually be very positive. You might find this two part imagery process for positive mental rehearsal to be interesting. It guides the reader to use their imagination to rehearse positive behavior in situations where they've had anxiety, anger, etc.

Again, thanks for your contribution, Steve. I've included it in my professional article section, and I hope readers will visit your helpful site.

My very best to you,

Dr. DeFoore