Some people have one traumatic event or circumstance that happened in their life that can explain their anger.  I think I've been angry for most of my life but can't pinpoint one specific reason.  There are a lot of "small" things about my childhood for which I suppose I could be angry.  Like parents with inconsistent emotions sending confusing messages but surely every parent sends confusing and inconsistent messages to their children.  Maybe some kids just take it harder than others.  But then again, most people are angry.  Just look at traffic, facebook, or internet message boards.  For years I didn't even know I was angry.  A therapist told me I was angry about 6 or 7 years ago and it came as a total shock.  "I'm not angry; I'm anxious!"  I said.  Now when I look back, I see that I've been angry most of my life, masking it behind anorexia, drug use, extreme passivity, and "low self-esteem" (another term for the more angry-sounding term, "self-hatred").


Added later (12/5):  I think I'm mostly angry because I am not true to myself.