To truly be able to achieve your goals, you must overcome your short temper. Such a temper can harm both you and your loved ones. It can negatively impact your career and relationships. There are also physical downsides to having a temper, too. For example, you are more likely to get stressed, have high blood pressure, and increase your risk of long-term health issues as a result.
While consulting a mental health professional can be highly beneficial, identifying and leveraging your unique strengths through a comprehensive assessment like the HIGH5 test can also be a powerful first step. By gaining insights into your natural talents and positive personality traits, you can develop strategies to channel your intensity in more constructive ways. The HIGH5 test empowers you to play to your strengths, cultivating greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence to better manage impulses and respond more productively to challenging situations.
This article will cover the definition of a short temper and what you can do to control it.
Signs of a Short Temper
If you are wondering whether you have a short temper, there are a few ways to find out. If you feel you do not have control over your emotions or if you or others are threatened by your anger, seek medical attention. However, there are warning signs you should surely listen to.
List of 10 Signs of a Shorter Temper
Below are a few signs that may indicate you have a short temper.
1. You cannot keep something to yourself
If you see something wrong, you may be unable to wait and later consult the wrong individual. Instead, you immediately lash out at them, even if the topic does not directly affect you. If you have difficulty rationally weighing when to voice an opinion and when to hold back, you may be short-tempered.
Those with a short temper typically act on their impulses and immediate negative feelings. When you cannot keep something to yourself, be truthful: are you stating things because you are honest, or because you are angry and cannot control yourself?
2. You are very impatient
Every short-tempered person is, by their nature, impatient. They want events to occur immediately and get frustrated by waiting.
Often, when they are forced to wait, short-tempered people respond in a negative manner. They could be violent or threaten others.
While most people are not incredibly patient, the general population can at least tolerate waiting.
If you cannot tolerate it or get extremely frustrated by even small waits, this is a sign that you are short-tempered.
3. You get shortness of breath and other physical symptoms
Everyone gets angry. However, if when you are upset, you experience extreme physical symptoms, this is a sign you are very tense. Short-tempered people cannot keep calm during tense moments. So, the body and mind take a toll. If you notice yourself getting short of breath when fighting, you may be short-tempered.
4. You struggle with letting go
Some grudges are not worth holding on to. Some fights are not worth starting. While most people agree with these statements, those with a short temper do not.
They continue to hold grudges and do not let go of fights. You always speak your mind in a fight and do not care about anyone else’s opinion. If you are short-tempered, there is no guilt associated with such grudges and getting into (sometimes unnecessary) fights.
5. You always complain
Those with a short temper have a harder time accepting imperfections. They are loud and do not hold back. As such, you may often find short-tempered individuals complaining often.
If they believe something is unfair or they were mistreated, they will not try to peacefully solve the issue. They complain and ensure they are heard.
6. You have angry outbursts
It is well-known that a short temper causes people to lose control when it comes to keeping emotions under control.
If you have very little control, you are prone to having outbursts. Those with a short temper may from time to time express dissatisfaction with outbursts, even violent outbursts.
This is done because they cannot see alternative ways to solve issues and immediately feed into their impulses.
7. You hate being interrupted
Virtually no one enjoys being interrupted. However, if you are short-tempered, you likely genuinely hate it.
When someone is interrupted, they are forced to listen and be quiet. Being quiet and calm goes against the nature of a short-tempered person.
Thus, they often react very negatively to this. There may be confrontations and outbursts as a result of the interruption.
8. You struggle with gathering your thoughts
Many short-tempered people report feeling flustered easily.
They may have racing thoughts, where their emotions change so quickly that they cannot rationally construct responses and think decisions through.
Even if you understand that taking your time and gathering your thoughts is beneficial, your powerful emotions do not allow you to do this.
9. You are known for shouting or yelling
There are many ways to deal with a conflict. You could separate, relax, and come together to solve the issue later. You could ask someone for assistance, such as a teacher.
The go-to method for a short-tempered person is typically shouting or in more serious circumstances, even violence. If many claims that you are “a shouter” you may be short-tempered.
10. You are sensitive
Sensitivity in and of itself is not a sign of a short temper. Many choose to isolate themselves as a result of sensitivity.
However, sensitivity can be a driving force for violence and conflict in a short-tempered person. They react quickly and extremely, sometimes to even small criticisms of mistakes.
How A Shorter Temper Affects Different Life Situations
Having a short temper does not just affect you and your career. It also has a lasting impact on your colleagues, friends, and family members.
Some breakups occur simply because of the fact that a partner has a temper from time to time.
Below, we outline how a lack of emotions and control could impact your personal life in different facets.
Relationship Issues
If you have a short temper, even small nuisances can enrage you. Few are able to understand why you react so extremely to such unimportant events.
They may single you out or start ignoring you. No one wants to be around someone who is constantly complaining, too.
Those with short tempers are likely to be consistent complainers, further isolating them socially and in their relationships.
If you cannot control your anger, you may even respond violently to a partner. When this occurs, there is virtually no chance that the relationship can be salvaged.
Many public places will ban you and employers will fire you if your anger is displayed.
In general, when many individuals are afraid of your temper, they are unlikely to give you a chance or wish to develop any relationship with you.
Physical Health Issues
There are physical side effects to being short-tempered. You may have an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or other issues with blood vessels.
This is so because the constant stress and anger eventually impact your body as well.
Many who are short-tempered unfortunately face an increase in blood pressure, further adding to the potential of cardiac issues.
Anger is likely to lead to poor health decisions in general. When you are always in a bad mood and infuriated, focusing on healthy eating, exercise, and sleep is difficult.
Many short-tempered people turn to food to calm themselves down. This is unhealthy and leads to weight troubles and a host of issues that follow.
Additionally, short-tempered people increase their risk of bulimia, which has serious physical side effects.
Anger is linked to binge eating and guilt, which leads individuals to vomit. These feelings of anger can be common in short-tempered people.
Psychological Issues
Depression is often associated with sadness and disinterest in previously enjoyed activities. However, there is an anger element to depression as well.
Depression is also linked with frequent outbursts of anger. Plus, those with a major depressive disorder often report having anger feelings.
There is also an increased risk of anxiety for those who are short-tempered.
Sweating, blood pressure issues, and feeling out of control are all symptoms those with anxiety and a short temper share.
Researchers now understand the strong relationship between the physical symptoms of anxiety and a short temper.
How To Deal And Stay in Control of Short Temper
A large portion of individuals with short temper struggle with controlling their emotions. However, understand that they are within your control.
You can take steps to decrease your impulsivity and lessen your angered responses.
Below are a few techniques we recommend.
Try Positivity Exercises
Positivity is a great way to get yourself more relaxed. Positive practice is a technique that is aimed at decreasing your anger and increasing inner peace.
For example, you could try using a few breathing techniques. Take deep breaths when you feel tense. You can add comforting and positive words to the breathing exercise, too. If you do this for long enough your anger will eventually decrease and you will avoid the negative results of an outburst.
In addition to practicing positivity exercises and leveraging support systems, gaining a deeper understanding of your unique talents and strengths through an assessment like the HIGH5 test can be instrumental in controlling your temper.
By identifying your core strengths, you can develop customized strategies that align with your natural inclinations, making anger management approaches more intuitive and sustainable. The HIGH5 test provides personalized insights, enabling you to harness your strengths proactively and respond to triggers in a manner that aligns with your authentic self.
Reach Out to Loved Ones
Who would you call when facing tragedy, or truly needing help? They are the people you truly trust, and they are the people who can help you overcome your anger. Whenever you feel extremely angry, try calling them. They can help you view the situation in a different way. Having any support group (whether it be your family, friends, colleagues, or anyone else) can help you control your anger.
Keep a Mood Journal
Journaling has been proven to be beneficial in many circumstances. Mood tracking through journaling is great for reflection and the release of tension. A mood journal or daily mood chart can help you keep track of how often you feel certain emotions, and why you feel them. Once you notice a pattern, you can identify and avoid your triggers. Also, write down what you specifically thought about the situation and what your immediate impulses were.
See a Therapist For Advice
Sometimes, you may not be able to handle a problem on your own. Therapists can be an excellent resource for you. A mental health expert has experience in this field and can give you in-depth advice on how to overcome your anger. They are receptive and truly care for your well-being.
With therapy, you can learn more about anger management, which techniques are right for your specific personality, and how to identify triggers and deal with them.
Facts About Short-Tempered People
Short-tempered people can be confusing to the general population. If you know someone with a short temper, you may wonder why they act the way they do. If you are short-tempered yourself, you may feel isolated and misunderstood.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Explore how your top strengths, as identified by the HIGH5 assessment, could be leveraged to better manage triggers or respond more productively in challenging situations. For example, if one of your strengths is “Resilience,” consider techniques for bouncing back quickly from setbacks and maintaining composure.
List of 4 Facts About Short-Tempered People
1. A short temper can be caused by numerous reasons. It is often traced to childhood and how someone was raised. Sometimes, it is linked to another mental health condition, like anxiety or depression. If someone is outspoken and has a strong personality, they are more likely to be short-tempered.
2. People do not choose to be short-tempered. Do not believe that someone is a bad person because of their temper. They simply have strong negative urges and often cannot control them.
3. There are serious long-term health problems associated with a short-temper. For instance, a long period of having an uncontrolled short temper could lead to a heart attack. Mental health conditions could also develop, including depression, anxiety, and intermittent explosive disorder.
4. There are some genetic predispositions to having a short temper. Scientists have identified a warrior gene, referred to as MAOA, which makes them more likely to respond with anger and violence. This gene is strongly linked with a short temper.
Short-Tempered Vs. Hot-Tempered
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but there are a few differences between being short-tempered and being hot-tempered.
Both describe someone who struggles with controlling their emotions, specifically anger.
Those with short tempers simply lose control of their anger easily. The term does not necessarily describe how they respond to anger. Some with a short temper yell, while others have internal struggles.
A hot-tempered person is likely to show anger very visibly. The term “hot” describes someone else’s perception of the angered person’s reaction.
You can almost see the smoke coming out of the hot-headed person’s ears, meaning they are not only easily angered but also have over-the-top reactions.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Explore how your unique combination of strengths, as revealed by the HIGH5 test, can empower you to strike a healthy balance between assertiveness and emotional regulation. Identify techniques that allow you to embrace your intensity while maintaining composure in challenging situations.
Short Temper FAQ
What does it mean to have a short temper?
If you are short-tempered, you have a difficult time controlling your emotions. You often act immediately and impulsively. Having a short temper usually means you are easily angered. You are more likely to complain or irrationally react if you are short-tempered.
How do I stop being short-tempered?
While a short temper can be difficult to control, it is ultimately controllable. One way to stop being short-tempered is to use breathing techniques. Try to take deep breaths when a situation gets heated. Additionally, try to distance yourself from circumstances that generate stress. Leave the situation and come back when you are calmer. Try journaling about your feelings so you can identify and later remove triggers.
Is short temper genetic?
Having a short temper is not entirely genetic. However, scientists have discovered there is a genetic component to it. If you have the MAOA gene, also called the warrior gene, you are genetically prone to getting angry easier.
However, environment and upbringing are still the top culprits at the root of short tempers. If you are raised by individuals who are aggressive or fail to learn the importance of calmness, you are more likely to have a short temper. Those who have a strong personality (always speaking their mind) may also be more short-tempered.
Is short-temperness a weakness?
Usually, having a short temper is viewed negatively. It can impact your relationships, career, and health in adverse ways. You are more likely to have conflicts, have a poor reputation, and have high blood pressure. All of this makes a short temper a weakness.
However, a short temper also ensures you do not waste your time by keeping quiet. It can make you look assertive and confident. Ultimately, it is more of a weakness than a strength, but there are a few benefits to it.
Why am I short-tempered with my family?
Having a short temper can result for numerous reasons. When you are with your family, you may get frustrated by your children. It is typical for short-tempered people to react aggressively and strongly to even small irritations. Most if not all, children will bother their parents.
This could be one source of your temper. It could also be tension or conflict with a spouse or parent. The way you were raised, your personality, and even your genetics all contribute to how you may react to such conflict.
