Dr. David Orman

Q: I feel angry a lot for no obvious reason. Why?

A: From a natural health perspective, anger that seems to arise “for no obvious reason” is often the surface expression of something deeper and unaddressed in the body. Chronic tension, poor sleep, blood sugar swings, inflammation, and hormonal imbalance can all irritate the nervous system and lower your threshold for emotional stability. When the body is under constant low level stress, the brain stays in a subtle fight or flight state, and anger becomes a default outlet for that pressure. In this sense, anger is not a character flaw, it is a signal of physiological overload.

Traditional natural systems also view anger as linked to stagnation. When circulation, digestion, detoxification, or breath are restricted, pressure builds internally. This stagnation can show up emotionally as irritability, impatience, or sudden anger without a clear trigger. The body is trying to move something that is stuck, whether that is unmet rest, unexpressed emotion, or suppressed physical needs. Anger often appears when the body lacks proper movement, grounding, and rhythm.

Finally, anger can be a protective response when boundaries are being crossed, even subtly or unconsciously. Many people ignore fatigue, overwork, or emotional strain until the body speaks louder. From a natural health viewpoint, the solution is not suppression but regulation. Improving sleep quality, stabilizing meals, restoring mineral balance, breathing deeply, and allowing regular physical release often soften anger naturally. When the body feels safe and supported again, the anger no longer needs to shout to be heard.