Rage rooms have gained popularity as a unique stress relief outlet, allowing people to smash and destroy objects in a controlled environment. However, the overlooked drawbacks of the destruction are rarely discussed.
Keitumetse Molete, a board certified clinical psychologist, said while rage rooms may offer short-term outlets for emotional build-up, they can, to a certain extent, unintentionally reinforce emotions people are trying to release.
From a psychological standpoint, when we express anger aggressively, it can reinforce the brain's anger response, making it a more automatic and dominant emotional reaction. This can prevent individuals from processing and healthily releasing painful emotions, leading to a cycle of reactive anger and frustration. As a result they may feel stuck and struggle to access more constructive coping mechanisms while maintaining a pattern of emotional pain and distress, she said
In a recent TimesLIVE report, th e World Health Organisation said more than 1.9-billion people worldwide battle with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.