The feeling of bottled up emotions, pent up frustration and a short fuse, mental health experts said they're seeing more and more anger in people.

Joseph Kuchenbuch, the director of behavioral health services at WMU’s Unified Clinics, said anger is a natural emotion that occurs when someone feels threatened.

“That’s a symptom that they’re hurting, that’s a symptom that they’re in need and that’s a reaction to their condition and stress,” he said.

He said the pandemic has increased the aspects of pressure, stress, a powerless feeling and the feelings of being threatened.

At a Kalamazoo emergency veterinarian clinic, several signs are posted hoping to discourage aggressive behavior. A spokesperson for the VCA Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kalamazoo said they signs are not new and like many industries, they’ve seen heightened emotions during the pandemic.

So, are people more on edge these days?

“We see acts of violence, we see acting out, we see people on the fringe, people spilling over into violent acting out much more common now than it was in the past,” said Kuchenbuch.

Kuchenbuch said the common factor is the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Some individuals are constantly at this level of tension that pushes them over the top and if they’re they don’t have the resources to manage it, then it spills over and causes an outburst, we've seen it in the media, on airplanes, on lines,” he said.