They’re All The Rage

Traffic is bumper-to-bumper on 95. Your boss is breathing down your neck. Someone beat you to a parking spot at Town Center. Your fists are clenched. Your heart is pounding. Your face is red. You need to release some steam.

Now, you can vent all you want – safely – at rage rooms. These facilities are just what they sound like: Rooms full of items like printers, TVs, computers, wine bottles and lunch boxes that guests – usually during solo sessions – smash to their hearts’ content with their weapon of choice (e.g., shovel, bat, sledgehammer). Bonus: You don’t have to clean up afterward, either.

Proponents of rage rooms – two of which recently opened in Fort Lauderdale and Miami – claim they’re an ideal way to bust stress and release repressed anger in a controlled environment.

“Physical catharsis is important to processing memories and experiences,” says Pamela Goffman, a therapist in private practice at the Psychodrama Institute of South Florida in Delray Beach. “When we feel powerless, angry and worthless, those feelings affect us. If you can’t process them, they can get held in the body. Oftentimes, incorporating the body in catharsis is important.” 

Plus, it can be fun and empowering to make a mess, she says.

However, keep in mind that breaking things in a rage room may feel good in the moment, but it won’t truly solve any of your problems. In fact, you may be teaching yourself that you need to destroy something to release emotions, says Goffman. 

“We need to take responsibility for what we’re feeling and reverse roles with people like coworkers, kids and partners to see ourselves through the eyes of others,” she says. “That’s really how we heal.” 

She suggests activities like jogging, drawing or journaling instead.

“These are physical experiences of being able to reflect,” she says. “They’re productive instead of destructive. Your anger may be out of your body, but you still need to deal with it in a constructive way.” O

Breathe Deep

Still feeling tense? The answer could be a piece of jewelry. Really. The Uncommon Goods Mindful Breathing Necklace features a tube-like pendant that you breathe into. It encourages slow, conscious breathing, which can lower your heart rate and help center you. Plus, it looks pretty spiffy, too. Visit uncommongoods.com.

Illustration by iStock.com/XiaoYun Li