Anger Quiz Take this anger quiz to evaluate the anger in your life. A Which symptoms do you express when you are angry? Sudden explosions Sullen, silent treatment Raised voice (shouting, yelling, screaming) Argue without listening Say things you later regret Tense jaw, face, or neck muscles (grinding teeth) Harsh, critical, or demeaning tone of voice Become irrational Become impatient Become frustrated or irritated Keep records of wrongs, and bring them back up Become violent (throw, hit, kick, slam doors . . .) toward things toward people B How often do you express anger? Rarely Monthly Weekly Several times a week Daily Several times a day How often do you get mad and suppress it? Rarely Monthly Weekly Several times a week Daily Several times a day Who makes you mad? Rate how high your anger is toward each. None Slight Significant Extreme Self: Family: Close friends: Co-workers: Other drivers: Anybody and everybody: Other: C How often do you ask forgiveness for your anger with the following people? Never Rarely Sometimes Usually Always Self: Family: Close friends: Co-workers: Other drivers: Anybody and everybody: Other: D What level of separation does your anger cause in relationships with: None Slight Significant Extreme Absolute Spouse or Parents: Children or siblings: Other family: Co-workers: Friends: Acquaintances: How much pain does your anger inflict upon: None Slight Significant Intense Devastating Spouse or Parents: Children or siblings: Other family: Co-workers: Friends: Acquaintances: E Do you sometimes not understand why you get angry? No Yes Do you usually feel you are justified in your anger? No Yes Is your anger sometimes good? No Yes Do you know how God feels about your anger?... Confident Maybe No F How hard have you tried to overcome anger? None Some Significantly Consistently How much do you want to overcome your anger? None Some Significantly Determined How much hope do you have for overcoming anger? None Some Significant Confident Anger Quiz Score Totals Warning Signals For section A, no points were assigned for your responses. Take special note of the symptoms you listed: You suddenly explode You give others a sullen, silent treatment You raise your voice (shouting, yelling, screaming) You argue without listening You say things you later regret You become tense in your jaw, face, or neck You take on a harsh, critical, or demeaning tone of voice You become irrational You become impatient You become frustrated or irritated You keep records of wrongs, to later bring them back up You become violent toward things or toward people These warning flags should remind you to back up and dial down. Furthermore, when these signals show themselves, chances are that people around you are already experiencing you as angry. Relationships are often damaged when you don’t think you are angry. (Read more on warning signs in Lesson 3 of Uprooting Anger.) God’s word: “When you are angered, sin not.” (Eph 4:26)—(Read more on this verse in lesson 4 of Uprooting Anger.) Overall breadth and depth of anger in your life: Your score: out of 40. You indicate a subnormal occurrence of anger. Are you honest with yourself about your level of anger? You’re doing well, but keep working on it to build stronger relationships. If you value your relationships, getting help is advised. You are hurting yourself and others more than you probably realize. You need help. You need help. You are self-destructing. The level of intensity of your anger toward yourself indicates that you need to deal with some issues such as guilt, forgiveness, pride, and too high expectations for yourself. Uprooting Anger has lessons that will help you get in touch with root issues. The level of intensity of your anger toward people close to you indicates that you probably need to deal with issues such as forgiveness, bitterness, high expectations, rights, or need to control. Uprooting Anger has lessons that will help you get in touch with these root issues as well as other possibilities. The level of intensity of your anger toward people who are not close to you indicates that you need to deal with issues such as self-centeredness, need for control, judgment, and high expectations. Uprooting Anger has lessons that will help you get in touch with these root issues as well as other possibilities. The more frequent and violent your anger (in actions, words, or silence), the more damage it causes yourself and others. Studies show that anger—expressed or suppressed—causes serious physical, psychological, and relational damage. Asking forgiveness and restoring relationships minimizes the destruction caused. Look for a pattern in your responses. When particular people frequently make you mad, or you are violent toward them, it is usually tied to unforgiveness, bitterness, or high expectations. (See lessons 11, 13, and 19 in Uprooting Anger). God’s word: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Eph. 4:31) Repairing the damage Section C is to factor in the importance of asking forgiveness when you have offended others through your anger. If you ask forgiveness for your anger, it minimizes the damage. Consequently, as scores were tallied for Section B, points were subtracted from the totals, if you received credit for asking forgiveness. Anger causes offense and hurts relationships. When you confess your wrong to those who witnessed your anger—without casting blame on others—and ask for forgiveness, it heals the hurts caused by anger and often restores the relationship.Any relationship that suffers from anger without experiencing forgiveness is in trouble. If you usually ask forgiveness, good for you. Strive to be consistent in order to strengthen your relationships. God’s word: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (Rom. 12:18) God’s word: “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” (Matt 5:23-24) Level of destruction in relationships Your score: out of 48. (Forty-eight points indicates absolute, devastating damage in all relationships.) You’re doing well. Keep working to keep it that way or improve. If you desire healthy, lasting relationships, you need to find help to overcome anger. Your anger is destroying people, relationships, and the physical and psychological health of yourself and those around you. It’s time to seek help to uproot your anger. When we hold onto anger, it destroys peace and joy in our own lives as well as in those around us, causing hurt and schisms, making it harder to live in harmony, more difficult to work together, and creating tension and friction over minor issues. God’s Word: Instead of causing strife and pain, “encourage one another, and build up one another.” (Th 5:11) God’s Word: “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb 3:13) Understanding of the nature of anger Points are not assigned for section E, but responses to your answers are given below. 8. Do you sometimes not understand why you get angry? Anger springs from the heart, not the mind, so it is often difficult to understand what the root of our anger is. Uprooting Anger is a study of verses and incidents in the Bible that help us understand the different roots in our lives that lead us to respond in anger. God’s word: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.” (Jer 17:9-10) We cannot understand our own hearts, but through His Word, God will reveal it to us so we can be free from the bondage of anger. 9–11. Is your anger justified? Sometimes good? How does God feel about it? God tells us, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Eph 4:31). All anger is destructive and needs to be put away, even when the situation seems to justify anger. Uprooting Anger explores ways to deal with anger—even when there is cause. Lesson 2 looks at Jesus in the temple to see why it’s ok for Jesus to be angry but not me. God’s Word: “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20) God’s word: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm. (Psalm 37:8) Motivation level 12. You have not tried have tried some have given significant effort have tried consistently to overcome anger. Today is a new day. With God’s help and with application of His truths in your life, you can get freedom from anger. It is possible. It will take effort on your part, but freedom from anger will bring such peace and joy in your life and in your relationships that it is well worth the effort. 13. You have no desire have some desire have significant desire are determined to overcome anger. The likelihood of you overcoming anger is closely linked to how much you want to conquer it, how much you will commit to the effort, and how much you are willing to let God work in your life. Many people have tried hard to stop being angry and have failed because they went about it the wrong way. If you are less than determined, ask God to give you the desire and determination to get free. 14. You have no a little significant confident hope that you can overcome anger. It’s hard to maintain hope when past efforts failed, but with God’s help, the bondage of anger can be broken. Uprooting Anger builds hope and shows how to attack the roots from which anger grows. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:6) The likelihood of you overcoming anger is closely linked to how much you want to conquer it and how much you are willing to let God work in your life. Many people have tried hard to stop being angry and have failed because they went about it the wrong way. Watch a video of someone who conquered anger after giving up all hope. Learn more about the book Uprooting Anger.