Anger makes symptoms worse, so we discourage a person's expression of anger.

• A. True
• B. Sometimes
• C. False
• D. Cannot determine

Answer: (C)

Anger is a natural emotion and a signal about unmet needs or stress that deserves attention, not blanket suppression. In recovery-focused support, the goal is to help a person express anger in a safe, constructive way, validate the feeling, and explore what they need or want to change. When anger is acknowledged and discussed, the person can identify triggers, describe how it feels in their body, and develop coping or problem-solving steps, which can reduce overall distress and associated symptoms. Simply discouraging anger expression can keep distress inside, heighten tension, and potentially worsen symptoms or erode trust and communication. The exception is when anger becomes unsafe or harmful; in those cases, set clear boundaries and teach safety and de-escalation while still validating the underlying feelings. So, the statement is not accurate.