What can we do about feeling so angry?

There is a lot to be hot about.

The past six months have brought a range of emotions. We have been shocked, scared and depressed.

But now many of us are starting to fume. The pandemic has affected our lives, but also our jobs, our economy, our kids, our parents. There's no real hope that anything will get back to "normal" soon. And outside of the pandemic, we've had rising protests and a looming election.

"Collectively speaking, we are an angry country," said Ebony White, a licensed professional family counselor. "We are a divided country. We are scared. We are tired and we want change. And if we aren't careful, soon all of us will be full of rage. And that's not good."

So what should we do about it?

In the earlier stages of the pandemic, many of us were consumed with feelings of grief, despair and powerlessness. Those emotions, explained Linda Copel, a marriage and family therapist and a psychology professor at Villanova University's M. Louise Fitzpatrick School of Nursing, are at the bottom end of the continuum of emotion; they are rooted in hopelessness and fear. We feel bad because there is nothing we can do about our situation.

Anger, believe it or not, is a step up. Anger actually is closer to peace, contentment and joy because it fuels us to take the action we need to get us to a happier place.

"Anger spurs us to make change," Copel said. "It energizes us. Inspires us to make our voices heard and get things done."

Change that comes from being fed up is powerful, said Heather Coletti, an adjunct professor of philosophy at Villanova. And society has taught some groups to behave as a way to control them. Women were taught that anger was unbecoming, hysterical. Black anger can get a Black man killed.

"I've always seen anger as very valuable," Coletti said. "Anger has the potential to transform and be transformative."

But anger that goes unchecked is rage. And rage, Coletti said, is not good for us because it's out of control, unpredictable and destructive.

"Once your anger becomes rage, you've missed the opportunity to transform, and you could spend a lifetime stewing in your own juices," Coletti said. It can be paralyzing.

The scary part, mental health professionals say, is that a lot of us are on the brink of rage — if we haven't completely crossed over already.

As long as you are conscious of your anger, you aren't yet enraged, said Copel. One way to help keep from letting your disgust get the best of you is to identify the feeling.

When your feeling of discontent starts to bubble, don't stuff it down and pretend it's not there. This is probably the most important step, said Carrie Rowan, of "Tell a New Story: 5 Simple Steps to Release Your Negative Thoughts and Bring Joy to Your Life." You can't fix a problem you won't admit to yourself that you have, she said.

The next step is to figure out what's really making you mad. This sounds easier than it is, Copel said. Sometimes we say we are angry about one thing because we don't want to face what's really bothering us. You might think that you're angry because you can't go out, but the truth is, you don't feel your partner is paying attention to you.

"This can take some time to get at," Copel said. "Now is when you want to meditate, journal, really sit down and figure out why you aren't happy."

Every day, when you wake up, you can choose to do something productive with your anger, Rowan said. Perhaps you start your day with a gratitude prayer or meditation.

If your source of anger is a relationship, pick a time when the person hasn't gotten on your nerves — that's the worst time to address an issue — and explain how you feel. Maybe you will learn something new about each other.

It also helps you defuse your anger if you stay connected with your family and friends. Send them cards. FaceTime. Send gifts. Know that if you are choosing not to visit them during this uncertainty, you are doing your part to keep them safe.

If the state of politics has you stewing, the most important tool at your disposal is exercising your right to vote in November. Want to do more? Maybe this is the year you join or donate to a political campaign, or find a way to give back to your community.

If social justice — or the lack thereof — has you seeing red, volunteer for organizations that welcome your voice.

Take a break from checking Facebook and Twitter feeds (or, at least, stop doomscrolling). And if you do give in, please don't write that nasty comment on the post that set you off. That only brings you one step closer to rage.

Finally, remember that the only thing you can really change is yourself. When we are at our angriest, we have to remember we can't control the people and the events that are outside of us, Coletti said.