Anger is something that we all deal with from time to time. Unfortunately, some of us have a harder time managing anger, and don’t even know it. So, how do you know if you’re in that category? Here are 4 symptoms of anger problems you can use to identify whether you might have an anger problem.

Do these anger symptoms describe you or someone you know?

1. You Get Angry Often

If you get angry frequently, there’s a good chance you may have some issues related to anger that need to be dealt with. When this happens one of the best things to do is give yourself time away from the things that are making you angry.

2. You’re Always Defensive

Are you always getting defensive about something? Things like your work, your looks, your weight, how you talk, or anything else? Getting defensive and angry over things that make you defensive, is a sign you should evaluate things before reading too much into them. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself getting angry over things that probably were taken out of context.

3. Any Little Thing Gets You Mad

Do the smallest things set you off? You know things like: getting stuck in traffic, your morning coffee is cold, or you get ketchup on your new shirt. There are worse things in life than spilling something on your shirt… although it can be annoying, it really doesn’t justify the amount of anger, or attention, that it gets.

4. You Get Aggressive

Becoming aggressive when you’re angry is one of the worst things you can do. It can be a marker of just how “out of control” your anger is. If you get aggressive when you get angry, even for small things, then you’re endangering not only yourself, but those around you.

Recognizing anger problem symptoms is the first step in taking charge of your anger, before it starts affecting your life and relationships.