The Anger Quiz Anger that goes unresolved can also create stress. When we try too hard not to be angry, we defeat ourselves and bring on more stress than is necessary. Trying hard to avoid anger or pretend it's not there is called anger diversion. For women, there are at least four ways that anger can be diverted. When we divert anger, we try to escape it or put it out of mind.
Women suppress anger by containing it.
Many women report that when they suppress anger they feel almost immediate tightness in their chest, shoulders, neck, back or stomach. Some say that suppressing anger leads them to overeat or drink too much to soothe the pain they feel inside. Sometimes circumstances force us to divert anger by suppressing it for the moment, for instance in an unsafe relationship where anger expression is forbidden. Women internalize anger by absorbing guilt and blame meant for others with whom they're angry. Suppressing anger for long periods results in internalization because un consciously we must attribute responsibility for the hurt somewhere .