Reactive anger is anger we feel that we have no control over.

It just seems to explode out of us.

It is like a knee-jerk reaction with no thinking involved.

Anger is one of the basic human emotions elemental as happiness, sadness, anxiety, or disgust.

These emotions are tied to basic survival and were honed throughout human history.

Anger is related to the "fight, flight, or freeze" response of the sympathetic nervous system; it prepares humans to fight.

Fighting doesn't necessarily mean throwing punches; it might motivate communities to combat injustice by changing laws or enforcing new behavioral norms.

Of course, anger too quickly or frequently mobilized can undermine relationships and harm bodies in the long term.

Prolonged release of the stress hormones that accompany anger can destroy neurons in areas of the brain associated with judgment and short-term memory and weaken the immune system.

Everyone experiences anger at some point. It becomes problematic, however, when the frequency or severity of anger interferes with relationships, work performance, legal standing, or mental health.

While there is no official "anger disorder," dysfunctional anger can be a symptom of manic episodes, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

Anger doesn't require a formal diagnosis to be disruptive or to benefit from help with its management.