How To Deal With The Anger You Feel Over People Ignoring COVID-19

GeorgePeters via Getty Images Therapists offer tips on how to manage the strong emotions that bubble up when you see people disregard public health guidance. “In the country’s new devastating wave of infections, a perilous gap exists between the realities of transmission and the rules implemented to prevent it.” In other words, some people participating in riskier activities may be unaware that their actions could be dangerous, said Los Angeles marriage and family therapist Abigail Makepeace. “When you’ve been holding up your end of the bargain, it is enraging to see that others are not doing the same.” - Zainab Delawalla, clinical psychologist “They may have lost their job or relationship or may be struggling with less visible challenges, such as challenges in their mental health,” Makepeace said. It often leads to defensiveness, “which can make people double-down on their behavior to ‘prove’ that their actions are justified,” Delawalla added. “Ideally in any healthy relationship, people can feel safe enough to talk directly about anger openly to increase the chances their emotional needs will be understood and met by others,” Land said.