Squeaks and I were having fun making different faces for photos. We tried silly, sad, and surprised faces. Can you guess my last one? It was my angry face! Did you notice the clues? My eyebrows went down, and I had a big frown.
When people feel angry, our bodies react in similar ways. Think about the last time you felt mad. Maybe you lost a game or didn’t get something you wanted. You might have clenched your teeth, felt your stomach hurt, or started breathing fast. Anger is a strong emotion, and it makes our bodies do many things at once.
Our bodies are great at keeping us safe. When we get angry, our brain sends messages to prepare us for a possible threat. Even if it’s just losing a game, our body acts like there might be danger. This is why we make angry faces, clench our jaws, and frown. These signs tell others to “back off.”
Many animals show anger in special ways too. Dogs growl, cats arch their backs, and apes show their teeth. When Squeaks gets mad, he squeaks louder to sound tough. Sometimes, just showing anger can scare off a threat.
If the threat doesn’t go away, our bodies get ready to fight. This can make us feel funny because our body focuses on being ready to fight, not on things like digesting food. This might make your stomach hurt. Your eyes focus on what’s making you mad, and your brain releases adrenaline, a chemical that helps you react quickly.
Our bodies are amazing at protecting us, but we don’t always need these reactions for everyday anger. If someone disagrees with us or we lose a game, fighting isn’t the right choice. It can be hard to make good choices when we’re angry because our body is in overdrive.
When I’m angry, I try to take deep breaths and count to ten slowly. This helps my brain and body cool off before I decide what to do. I also make sure to eat well and get enough sleep because being tired or hungry can make us angrier faster.
Maybe you can try these tricks next time you feel angry or frustrated. See which ones work best for you!
Thanks for exploring with us today! Do you have any tips for when you’re feeling angry? Or questions about other feelings? You can ask a grown-up to help you visit our website at patreon.com/scishowkids to check it out. See you next time at the Fort!
