If you’re overcome with stress, what would be a better way to release your pent-up anger than by destroying things? By going to rage rooms, you’re allowed to be as destructive as you want without any fear of consequence. In fact, companies have developed these rooms and their possessions for the sole purpose of being vandalized.
Concept of Rage Rooms
Rage rooms are mostly constructed to resemble familiar places such as kitchens and living rooms. Typically, these rooms contain desks, glassware, televisions, and other breakable objects. What’s more? If you decide to visit these rage rooms, you may even be able to bring your own items to break. So, if you’re going through a messy break-up in a relationship, then why not use that expensive flower vase you may have been given on Valentine’s Day for target practice? It’s not like you’re going to need it anyway.
History of Rage Rooms
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The first rage rooms came to be in Japan sometime in 2008 or even before then. From there, these rooms swiftly spread to various countries such as Argentina, Serbia, and the United Kingdom. In 2018, the U.S. would participate in the popular trend with hundreds of rage rooms operating in different cities all over the country.
Primarily, these rooms allow people to let out their frustrations and anger by destroying property and smashing objects. More than that, these rooms offer controlled environments where you can experience a cathartic release through physical activity. So, not only are rage rooms good for mental health, but can improve your physical health as well since it keeps you active.
Expansion of Rage Rooms
Companies aren’t the only ones benefitting from these rooms. Individual citizens have jumped onto the bandwagon too. Specifically, a woman named Donna Alexander is credited for creating rage rooms, independently. In 2008, Alexander developed her own rage room with abandoned items she’d find in the street.
Following her ingenious approach, she opened the Anger Room in 2011, utilizing a building measuring 1,000 square feet. Ultimately, Alexander aimed to provide a safe place for people to vent their darkest emotions, nonviolently, as these rooms offered a more peaceful way to release emotions.
Eventually, its concept was expanded in February 2021 by Italian artist, Colline Di Tristezza. She would propose that rage rooms and its alternative, crying rooms, be set up in places where people gathered most. The places that Tristezza proposed as new rage room locations included schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. In general, Trisetezza hoped that these rooms would help staff avoid burnout as they provided a safe place to vent in the most stressful environments.
Controversy Surrounding Rage Rooms
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Despite their benefits, the effectiveness of rage rooms is considered controversial by many mental healthcare professionals. They argue that the relief provided is mostly temporary as they don’t address the source of one’s emotional issues. Moreover, it’s suggested that rage rooms don’t allow people to release their frustrations but instead exacerbate their aggression.
This potential increase in anger could encourage individuals to act out violent behaviors outside of these rooms. Those with anger issues may even become more prone to more intense outbursts as well. Overall, the criticism surrounding rage rooms raises concern about its long-term effects on influencing human emotion and behavior.
Conversely, some mental health professionals argue that the short-term relief that people gain provides healthy emotional regulation. For others, the physical activity involved may help people struggling with anxiety or sleeping problems. Still, regardless of what side you may be on in determining the effectiveness of rage rooms on mental health is heavily debated in psychology.
Mitigating Risks of Rage Rooms
Although rage rooms are placed in controlled environments, they do have risks that you should be aware of. Potentially, you could face certain dangers such as falling, slipping, and even accidents such as getting injured by debris from breaking objects. However, establishments that have rage rooms mitigate these issues by requiring protective gear for all participants. These protective gear include coveralls, gloves, and eye protection.
More than that, participants must sign liability waivers before they can join. While these precautions prevent physical injuries from taking place, they also protect you from emotional harm. Particularly, rage rooms can be intense and could accidentally trigger a harmful emotional response, if not careful.
Limiting Toxic Exposure of Rage Rooms
You should also be aware of being exposed to toxic chemicals when inside these rooms. Workers tasked with daily clean-up may use certain cleaning materials that may be hazardous to your health. Additionally, you may be exposed to other participants and staff who have been infected with these harmful substances.
Even the objects placed in a rage room can be dangerous such as mercury within old electronics or lithium from certain batteries. Besides human health, high-risk objects like CRT screens and light bulbs can be dangerous to the environment. These objects can cause environmental hazards such as explosions and fires, which is why you should take all safety protocols seriously.
Safety Measures of Rage Rooms
Local governments have also addressed these concerns by taking action. In a Los Angeles case, for example, they prohibited smashing electronic objects in rage rooms in 2023. Following insurance guidelines and to prevent potential lawsuits, these age restrictions exist in many places.
Typically, people who are 18 years and older can participate by themselves, while children 13 years and older must have an adult accompanying them to join. Those who aren’t permitted entry are usually people who are intoxicated, sick, or injured and even pregnant women. With these restrictions in place, these companies aim to keep rage rooms as safe as possible just so that you can enjoy vandalism peacefully.
Disclaimer: This article is intended simply to provide information. It does not replace the medical advice of a physician or other medical professional. Please speak with your doctor or therapist if you have any questions or concerns.
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