Are “Rage Rooms” a Healthy Outlet for Grief and Burnout?

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Most of us have probably been so angry we wanted to break a few things. These days, doing so is highly possible thanks to the rise of “rage rooms,” where, for a fee, you can smash items ranging from glass bottles to computers and grandfather clocks. Whether or not this type of release is healthy is a more nuanced question.

Anger and grief often go hand-in-hand — and the emotion is no stranger to many caretakers. One thing medical professionals seem to agree on is that suppressing emotions is a real danger, which can even lead to premature death. So if you’re seeking catharsis for pent-up exasperation or fury, rage rooms could be an interesting solution.

Speaking to NPR-affiliate health and science podcast The Pulse, the CEO of Break Stuff N.J., Andrew Powers, shared, “We’ve had people who’ve lost their children, who’ve lost their spouses, who’ve lost their jobs right before Christmas, and it’s just there’s a lot of heartbreak that walks into the door.”

Notably, Powers doesn’t consider rage rooms outlets for “releasing” anger, though. He prefers the phrasing of a customer who described it as “engaging with [their] anger” — viewing rage rooms as “a safe space [… to] play with” and “understand” the emotion. This is an important distinction, as associating release or relief with this type of outburst can prove problematic.

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The Darker Side of Rage Rooms

More than one psychologist warns that rage rooms can promote increased violent responses to anger. In other words, associating the feeling more closely with the act of breaking things may encourage people to behave violently in angry situations. In an interview with Cleveland Clinic, clinical psychologist Scott Bea, PsyD, said, “There probably is a discharge of pent-up emotion in those moments, but I think it’s probably short-lived.” He continued, “The much greater challenge is to learn more appropriate ways of noticing and expressing anger.”

For some healthier, non-destructive methods of moving through anger, stress management expert Elizabeth Scott, PhD, suggests taking a break, counting to ten, practicing meditation or breathing exercises, learning about anger and anger management, and learning how to physically soothe yourself. And of course, if long-term anger management is an issue, it’s an excellent idea to seek professional therapy.

Rage rooms are by no means a one size fits all solution to managing anger (especially for the long term). Nor do they need to be condemned across the board. They can be a purely novel activity, a fun way to learn about yourself and bond with friends. As with anything in life, moderation seems to be the key.