At The Reasons Why Foundation, we know that for many people leaving prison, anger is more than just an emotion, it’s been a survival tool. Whether it’s come from years of trying to protect yourself, feeling unheard, or carrying the weight of experiences that no one ever gave you space to process, anger can end up being the loudest voice in the room. It makes sense, when life feels unsafe, anger can feel like the only way to take control.

But when anger runs the show, it can lead to broken relationships, missed chances, and even more barriers to rebuilding life after prison. That’s why we work with people to help them understand their anger, not to get rid of it, but to change the relationship they have with it. Because anger itself isn’t wrong. It’s a signal. It’s telling you something matters, or something hurts, or something feels unfair. Learning to listen to that signal without letting it control you, that’s where the real work happens.

For a lot of the people we support, trauma sits just beneath the surface. It’s not always obvious, but it’s there, shaping the way they react to stress, how they read other people’s actions, and how quickly they move from frustration to outburst. When you’ve spent years on high alert, always braced for something to go wrong, it’s no wonder your system gets triggered so easily. The work we do together helps slow things down, so you get a bit of breathing space between what happens and how you respond.

That space, even just a few seconds, can be enough to start making different choices. In that pause, you get to ask yourself: “What’s really going on for me right now?” Sometimes it’s anger. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s shame or sadness showing up in a way that feels safer, louder, than vulnerability ever did.

We help people sit with those feelings, not to dwell on them, but to understand them, and to realise that they don’t have to control you. With support, you can start recognising the situations, people, or memories that trigger you the most, and build tools to handle them differently. Whether it’s stepping away for a moment, learning to recognise the physical signs before things boil over, or finding new ways to release the pressure, there are always options.

What’s important to remember is that none of this is about weakness. Learning to manage anger doesn’t mean you’re soft or you’re letting anyone get away with anything. It means you’re choosing yourself. You’re choosing your future. You’re choosing a life where you get to be in charge of how you respond, instead of being pulled around by reactions that were wired into you long before you had a say.

At The Reasons Why Foundation, we’re here to walk that journey with you, with no judgement, no pressure, just the belief that change is always possible, and you deserve the chance to find peace.

If you or someone you know could benefit from our trauma-informed mentoring and support, get in touch with us today at www.therwf.org or email us at office@therwf.org.