Anger Yesterday
Today anger seems to hang in the air now like a low-grade fever. Everywhere you look, someone is irritated, offended, outraged, or ready to snap. It’s as if the emotional climate has shifted, and the default temperature is hotter than it used to be.
But here’s the thing: I don’t remember this from childhood. Growing up as a baby boomer, I remember disagreements, frustrations, and the occasional blow-up — but not this constant hum of public anger. Has something actually changed, or does it only feel that way?
The answer is yes — something has changed. Several things, in fact.
1. Anger used to be private. Now it’s public.
In the world many of us grew up in, adults kept their tempers behind closed doors. Children weren’t exposed to every adult frustration. Neighbors didn’t unload on each other in the grocery store. And if someone was having a bad day, the whole town didn’t hear about it.
Today, anger is:
posted
tweeted
livestreamed
commented on
algorithmically promoted
We’re not necessarily angrier people. We’re just seeing everyone’s anger all the time.
2. The public square changed — and so did the rules.
Once upon a time, the “public square” was physical: the church parking lot, the PTA meeting, the local diner. These places had norms. You didn’t scream at strangers. You didn’t pick fights with the cashier. You didn’t broadcast your grievances.
Now the public square is digital — and digital spaces reward:
outrage
certainty
quick judgment
emotional intensity
Calm doesn’t trend.
3. People are living with chronic stress.
Life wasn’t easy in the 1950s or 60s, but it was slower. The pace was human. News came once a day. Bills came once a month. Work ended when you left the building.
Today, people live with:
constant alerts
economic uncertainty
political polarization
climate anxiety
information overload
A nervous system under siege becomes reactive. Irritability becomes normal. Anger becomes the path of least resistance.
4. Community used to absorb frustration. Now individuals carry it alone.
Boomers grew up surrounded by:
extended family
neighbors who knew each other
churches
civic clubs
bowling leagues
shared public life
These acted as emotional shock absorbers. You could vent, talk, laugh, be seen.
Today, loneliness is widespread. When people have no place to put their frustration, it spills outward.
5. Media changed the emotional tone of daily life.
We grew up with:
30 minutes of news
one daily newspaper
commentary limited to a few voices
Now:
every headline is breaking
every issue is urgent
every disagreement is existential
A society constantly told it’s in danger becomes a society constantly on edge.
6. Anger is contagious.
Emotions spread socially. When anger becomes the dominant tone, people mirror it. They expect it. They brace for it. They preemptively escalate.
It becomes the emotional weather.
And yes — the weather has changed.
7. But not everything is worse.
Some of what looks like anger is actually:
grief
fear
exhaustion
overwhelm
unmet needs
lack of connection
People today are more willing to name their feelings, more aware of injustice, more open about mental health. Some of the “anger” we see is simply emotion that used to be hidden.
So, is the perception real?
Yes. But it’s not that people used to be kinder. It’s that the world used to be quieter.
The anger was there — but it wasn’t amplified, monetized, or broadcast. It wasn’t the soundtrack of daily life.
Today, we’re living in a society where everyone’s emotional volume is turned up, all at once, all the time.
And many of us — especially those who remember a different emotional climate — feel the difference in our bones.
graphic and some content/research via AI
post inspired by Anger Anonymous by Dr. Dennis Ortman
Book Description:
When you feel in the grip of anger, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you feel powerless to control your temper?
Does your anger frighten you so much that you feel compelled to suppress it?
Does your life feel unmanageable because of your anger?
Does your preoccupation with the unfairness of life and being wronged interfere with your happiness
Do you feel hopeless about finding a cure for your temper?
If you answer "yes" to these questions, you may be addicted to your anger. It acts like a drug that stimulates you, energizes you, and causes you to act insanely.
Keywords:
Anger management book; How to control anger; Overcoming anger addiction; Twelve Steps for anger recovery; Managing anger effectively; Self-help book for anger issues; How to stop being addicted to anger; Using the Twelve Steps to manage anger; Best books for anger management and self-control; How to handle anger without suppressing it; Anger management strategies for personal growth; Recovering from anger addiction through the AA Steps; Emotional regulation techniques; Breaking free from toxic angerl Controlling temper without therapy; Anger and personal transformation; How to stop destructive anger patterns; Mindfulness for anger management
Comment from President and Founder, Psychological Counseling Services Ltd
Dr. Dennis Ortman does an incredible job with his books. He does an excellent job of using the 12 Steps to provide practical guidance for the millions of people who have problems where anger, depression, or anxiety rise to the top in terms of "the presenting problem" in their lives when they come for therapy. His books provide very useful tools to deal with getting to a better place and having a life that functions better, including more serenity.
Ralph H. Earle, PHD, ABPP, MDiv, LMFT, CSAT
President and Founder
Psychological Counseling Services, Ltd (PCS)
Scottsdale, AZ
BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
For more posts about Dennis and his books, click HERE.
For more information about this book, click HERE.
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