“Expressing anger takes courage. We have to overcome the fear of rejection (in a society that does not value constructive disagreement) and fear of retaliation (in a nation that is hostile and violent). Nevertheless, we must try to do so, because the release of anger has many benefits. It can alleviate much of the shame and self-hatred we have accumulated because the more we stand up and face the source of our anger the more likely we are to stop blaming ourselves. The resulting improvement in the way we see ourselves lifts our hopes and allows us to dream. It also releases the energy we spend suppressing anger to be spent on more productively resistant activities. Once this physical tension eases, our bodies may be less prone to the corporeal manifestations of stress. When we discharge anger and shame it frees us to recognize and express other, more positive and pleasurable emotions. Each time we express anger constructively, our inner resolve strengthens and we get better at clarifying our positions, directly expressing our needs and making our boundaries clear. We can move from casualty to survivor, from someone controlled by the trauma and unresolved feelings to someone self-directed and able to work effectively for reform in genuine alliance with others.”
Chicana Without Apology, Eden Torres
