Anger and Release

Blog Series Part 3 - Healing Wounds

The Weight of Anger

Anger is often one of the loudest emotions to rise after leaving abuse. It may appear as rage toward the abuser, resentment toward ourselves for “staying so long,” or frustration at a system that failed to protect us. Anger can feel fiery, consuming, and at times frightening. But anger itself is not the enemy it is a signal. It shows us where we were hurt, where boundaries were broken, and where our sense of safety was violated.

Why Anger Matters

For many survivors, anger is a stage of reclaiming power. It is the body’s way of saying: What happened to me was not okay. Unlike shame, which turns inward, anger points outward. When channeled with awareness, anger becomes a catalyst for change. It helps us advocate for ourselves, set boundaries, and say “never again.”

The Practice of Release

Holding onto anger, can keep us in the to the past. Release does not mean excusing abuse or pretending it didn’t matter. Release means loosening the grip it has on your nervous system so you can breathe freely again.

Release might look like:

♥️Movement: walking, dancing, shaking, or boxing as a way to move anger through the body.

♥️Expression: journaling unfiltered thoughts, painting with bold strokes, or screaming into a pillow.

♥️Rituals: writing a letter you never send, then burning it; or creating a symbolic act of letting go (stones in the ocean, leaves on the wind).

♥️Compassion: turning some of that fierce energy into self-compassion, recognizing the courage it took to survive.

Reflection Questions

💚What does my anger want me to know about what I’ve been through?

💚How can I honor my anger without letting it control me?

💚What practices help me release anger in healthy, healing ways?