My Husband Is Always Angry
If your husband keeps getting angry, you are not alone.
When he blows a fuse at you or the kids, it can be really hurtful and scary. When it happens again and again, then it has a way of making you angry too. Especially if he jumps down your throat at the smallest things, like how you stock the groceries!
It’s baffling when you’re doing him kindnesses like making his coffee or having his dinner ready night after night. If you’re doing everything you can think of to be a good wife and still getting the cold shoulder, it is downright disheartening.
He wouldn’t even treat the dog this way!
So what to do if your man is always angry and negative? How do you deal with a rude husband?
Here are four proven ways to turn a rageaholic into a respectful spouse.
Contents
1) Rewind the Tape to See What Happened Just Before the Rage Started
This sounds crazy because he’s the one who’s behaving badly and being mean, but… his reactions could be an opportunity to look at your side of the street to see whether anything needs cleaning up.
His anger might be 95% of the problem, and that’s easy to focus on. But it’s a rare, wise woman who can also ask herself, “Did I do or say anything that wasn’t so great?”
When Ana’s husband kept getting annoyed with her day after day, it was as if she couldn’t do anything right. She felt completely disrespected, which is when she decided to take a look at how she was doing showing respect.
Hmm, this all started after she offered to call the exterminator. Sounds harmless enough, even helpful, but Ana knew that “helpful” in wife language meant “controlling” in husband language. She was afraid that their Airbnb guests would have unexpected pest visitors and she would be humiliated online.
As usual, fear lay beneath her urge to control. Sure enough, she was trying to control her husband to take care of the problem before they left town.
Granted, this seemed like a very small transgression to Ana, and it might to you too, but check out what happened when she decided to clean up her side of the street by saying, “I apologize for being disrespectful when I tried to control how you handled the pest situation.”
The tone in her house immediately improved.
Her husband thanked her for all she’d been doing to prepare for their trip and insisted she go relax and get her nails done. The new tone of mutual respect and gratitude carried into their long drive, where he couldn’t do enough to please her. Even with two little ones in tow, it turned out to be a romantic road trip!
Is there something on your side that you’re not super proud of saying or doing? If so, how might you own your mistakes?
Maybe he’s nitpicking an improperly ironed shirt when, in reality, he’s annoyed at how you keep getting into his closet. (Our “helpfulness” can wear so many guises! Check out this podcast for fourteen other forms of control.) Clean up your part–figuratively and literally–and respect his space.
If, on the other hand, you inspect your side of the street and it’s clean, then leave his mess on his side. I haven’t found any value in apologizing just to make nice. The magic only happens when I’m truly accountable for the part where I wasn’t at my best.
His rage is not your fault. His bad behavior is squarely on his paper. Even if you did something to irritate him, that doesn’t make it okay to hurl curse words and insults at you.
There could be another source for his anger, such as problems at work or with the in-laws.
It’s tempting to ask questions like “What’s wrong?” or “Did I do something?” Prodding him for what’s wrong with him or whether you upset him are back on his side of the street. And that’s back in control territory.
Relinquishing control of his moods and staying on your side of the street, on the other hand, is a totally respectful thing to do.
I’m reminded of the serenity prayer asking for the serenity to accept the things we cannot change (his anger) and the courage to change the things we can (our response).
You are a shiny wife mirror. As you flourish your powers of respect, he will come around and start reflecting you by showing you the respect you deserve.
2) Disarm His Anger with These Magic Words
It’s also tempting to have emotional check-ins or encourage him to get therapy. All “helpful” and (yup, you guessed it) controlling and therefore disrespectful.
Even pouring on empathy for what he’s going through can land askew.
Does he look at you funny–or not at all–when you validate, “That sounds really hard! I can only imagine how stressful. I would be so frustrated by what you’re going through.”
I find that’s because feelings tend to be one of women’s superpowers. Such validation feels great to us. For men, a mere “That sucks” tends to do it.
So, if you’re wanting to respect male culture, here’s the secret to making it safe for him to want to open up and share with you…
Listening without interrupting.
What I’m proposing here is easier said than done, but what if you didn’t reciprocate or react to his mood bait at all? Remaining neutral can dampen his emotional intensity. In time, he will calm down and mirror your reactions (or lack thereof).
Here are three little words to empower you to listen respectfully: “I hear you.”
What a relief when he knows you’re a safe harbor for him, that with you he doesn’t have to suck it up and “be a man,” especially since those pent-up emotions can snowball into uncontrollable outbursts.
If you want to go all out with this listening experiment, try just letting him talk while you practice that phrase for a full hour.
Easier said than done, I know! Most women report that after dealing with the discomfort of stretching outside their comfort zone, however, it’s a relief not to have to problem solve, offer advice or fix anything for him. And a joy when he steps up and takes the initiative to solve those problems himself (and the initiative to do more things for you too)!
There is one key exception: No need to say “I hear you” if he says something hurtful to you.
You are nobody’s doormat or whipping post.
If he calls you names or curses at you, simply saying “Ouch!” and leaving the room is a powerful way to express your hurt in a dignified way.
When you have such a vulnerable, respectful way to give him the space to see that he has hurt the woman he loves, he’s way less likely to do it again next time.
3) Do Not Try to “Fix” Him
If you’re been dealing with his outbursts for a while now, it’s easy to catch him doing something wrong.
The problem is: You are a powerful manifestor.
What you focus on increases. That’s why every time you bring up this problem, even in an attempt to solve it, it magnifies and gets even worse.
What if you tried something different, like catching him doing something good? If he expresses himself in a connecting way, let him know how happy he has just made you. A little gratitude goes a long way.
This is different from being his cheerleader. Trying to make him feel better through desperate encouragement or saying “It could be worse…” or “Why don’t you just…” oozes control, and men chafe at being controlled.
Even gently offering support by saying something like “Is there anything I can do to take the stress off your plate?” is being “helpful.”
“Helpfully” observing that he’s been getting angry a lot lately is likewise disrespectful, which actually creates even more distance.
That is, unless it’s from a place of “That’s not like you!” Expecting the best outcome is super respectul.
Saying that would probably feel like a big fat lie. Is it any more of a lie than telling yourself he’s always angry?
What difference does it make what you tell yourself (or him)? Again, what you focus on increases.
When Tanya’s husband lost his temper yet again, she changed the dance by responding, “That’s not like you to lose your temper.”
This was a huge stretch since what she normally told him was “You always lose your temper!” Sure enough, her husband gave her a funny look when she voiced her new affirmation, and even their 12-year-old son said, “Yes it is, Mom! He always loses his temper.”
Not long after, the husband was fuming at a restaurant’s slow service: “I have a good mind to call the manager over and let him know how long we’ve been waiting!” Then, he stopped himself and said, “That’s not like me to lose my temper, is it?”
Tanya had not only shifted her own view of her husband but even how he saw himself!
4) Know When to Step Away
It’s normal for negativity to affect your well-being at times. Sometimes you just need a timeout. There’s no shame in removing yourself from the situation. Rather, you’re choosing intimacy by removing yourself from the bait so you won’t bite.
This is a perfect opportunity to take some time to do the things you love.
Maybe it’s going for a long walk while letting it all out with a supportive friend…
Not the family member who loves you so fiercely she’ll never forgive him for treating you that way, even after he becomes his best self and you’re ready to move past this chapter.
Not the friend who tells you what a jerk he is and that you deserve better. It’s easy to find advocates for divorce. They’re well-meaning but may not have the tools for their own relationships.
Hopefully you can confide in the rare bestie who’s a great listener and still stands for the marriage you want, maybe even steering the conversation to why you want to fight for it.
Or, if you’re one of the many women who don’t have that, check out my FREE Roadmap so you do not have to be alone with this.
If your husband is a rageaholic, you might think all of this sounds too good to be true and maybe it won’t work for you. But when women on our campus find the courage to experiment even when they think it’s completely hopeless, to paraphrase Thomas Wolfe, miracles not only happen–they happen all the time.
9 replies on “My Husband Is Always Angry”
If only, my husband rages if I even ask him “what time is it”…and blows up over every little thing. I’ve been begging him to seek anger therapy, and he keeps saying “I know I need to” but it hasn’t happened, over and over and over. I’ve been trying to make this work for the kids for 12 years, and my own health problems have popped up from stress and worsened as we went on. I don’t think these tips will help my husband.
Kelsey, my heart breaks to hear that you can’t even ask what time it is without being raged at. No wonder you’re now having physical symptoms on top of this stress. That’s not right. It must be so heartbreaking, especially as a mother.
I hear you. I didn’t think this stuff would work with my husband either. But I had already tried everything else. What will you try instead?
I have been a loving and caring wife for 17 years and it has gotten me treated like a dog (a hated dog). Always thinking about my husband and what would make him happy. Favorite foods, not complaining when he wants to buy something (even though I never get anything), always thinking “he would like this or he would like that “, I’m the wife who lays out work clothes and gets up at 3:20am to make his coffee for work, lunch etc. If I did still work, no doubt in my mind that he would not even consider packing me a pack of crackers for lunch. I’m faithful, kind….people pleaser, yet I’m treated with disdain and hate by him and his family.
This was my second and last chance at happiness and my life is ruined. I’m near 60yrs with numerous medical issues and I feel this is all so unfair.
Kelly Ann, that is so unfair. I’m sad to hear that you feel hated and treated like a dog. No one deserves to be treated this way. Especially after all you’ve done for him! I’m sorry to hear you’re going through medical issues on top of everything else.
I remember feeling like my life was ruined too. I didn’t want a divorce but couldn’t see a way out of my misery or how there could be any hope. That’s why my coaches and I have helped thousands of women transform their marriages, even when things seemed hopeless.
Here’s a free Roadmap of 6 simple steps that have helped us turn things around so you can fix your relationship too!
http://lauradoyle.org/rm1o
ALL YOU WROTE IS A FAILURE WHEN YOU HAVE A HUSBAND WHO GETS ANGRY OFTEN OUT OF NO WHERE AND HE EXPECTS YOU TO NOT HAVE A VOICE. STARTING FIGHTS AND SHUTS ME UP AND DEMANDS ME TO LEAVE. HE ATTACKS OFTEN, IGNORES YOUR SIDE, YELLS AND TRASHES YOU DAILY, ALWAYS SAYING WHAT YOU DID WRONG OR ARE DOING WRONG, AND MORE. YOU ARE WRONG TO SAY THAT DOING STUFF FOR HIM WOULD HELP HIM. IT ONLY MAKES ME A PUNCHING BACK AND HAVE NO VOICE.
Sabrina, I’m saddened to hear what you’ve been going through. This sounds devastating. You should not be made to feel like a punching bag without a voice. No one deserves to be treated that way.
You are not alone. I still remember being at my husband’s mercy and how hopeless I felt. That’s why my coaches and I have empowered thousands of women, even after yelling and fighting like there was at my house.
Here’s a free Roadmap of 6 simple steps that have helped thousands of women turn things around so you can have the peace you deserve and have a voice: http://lauradoyle.org/rm1o
Great Blog Laura, Quick question though, What do you do if your husband keeps bringing up the things you did to him in the past even though you’ve changed since then. You apologized for being disrespectful back then but it’s been years and he still talks about it
Great question. I’d love to know that answer too.
Jane, I’m sorry to hear if your husband keeps bringing up the past even though you’ve changed and even apologized for being disrespectful. That’s so frustrating! I remember those days of criticism and how hard it was not having room to be human. Why couldn’t he see the best in me when I was trying so hard? Now there’s so much grace in my marriage! My coaches and I are here to support you in having that too. Join the waitlist for The Ridiculously Happy Wife coaching program here:
lauradoyle.org/rhw-waitlist