We all get upset. We all get angry. And we all say things we wish we could take back. That is just life.

When I am going through an overwhelming or particularly stressful time, anger has always been an emotion that comes out in me. Never outwardly in an aggressive way but internally I have always had a lot of anger about getting sick and how much that has impacted my life and the lives of my loved ones. I still do but it comes in waves and it is always triggered by something.

Anger always feels better when it has a target. I always used to say that it would be easier for me if I was the victim of a crime because then I would at least have someone to blame for the trauma I have gone through. I would at the very least be able to stare the person who caused me so much physical pain and mental anguish in the face and hopefully gain some closure.

Something that I have found over the years is that sometimes my anger has been misplaced. The anger I feel about being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and essentially having my life changed in the blink of an eye is a deep seeded emotion that has absolutely nothing to do with anyone. No one did this to me. It was no one’s fault. I have no one to blame.

But anger does always feel better when it has a target.

It is important to understand where your emotions are coming from so you don’t take it out on the wrong person or overreact. It is completely understandable why someone would be angry that they have a chronic illness and are suffering a tremendous amount, but it is crucial to realize that it is the circumstances that are making you frustrated and not the people around you.