ECONOMYNEXT – Enterprising Sri Lankans have come up with the idea of a ‘rage room’ to help people vent their anger as the country is in the grip of a deep economic crisis.
A rage room, also known as a smash room or anger room, is a room where people can vent their frustrations by destroying objects, to relieve stress.
“The idea of opening a smash/rage room came … when I and my partner were discussing new business concepts that could be introduced to Sri Lanka to help battle its current economic crisis,” Shaveen Perera, Founder of the Rage Academy, told EconomyNext.
“The rage room was introduced as an addition to the leisure and entertainment market.”
Sri Lanka’s 12-month inflation peaked at 58.9 percent in June 2022 as the rupee fell to 360 to the US dollar from 200 and has since eased to 59.2 percent in December 2022.
As consumption falls due to depreciation, many businesses are feeling the pinch and bad loans are rising in the banking system.
However Perera are his partner decided to take up the challenge of setting up a new business.
The rage room is a “both a fun activity as well as a healthy outlet for stressed individuals,” Perera said.
“So I decided not to waste any time and get into introducing it despite the massive risks new business concepts come with.”
Doctors say a rage room is a temporary and useful tool but the underlying problem giving rise to stress also has to be solved.
“A rage room is not a total, realistic solution for uncontrollable anger,” N Kumaranayake, a clinical psychiatrist told Economy Next.
“I think it’s a temporary solution to settle for any harm to the family member or self.
“The best solution is to assess the mental state of the person and take necessary issues as long-term problem-solving.
“Cognitive therapy is effective as it does improve awareness of behavior and learn how to control anger or rage in a new outlook.” (Colombo/Feb07/2023)
Isn’t it more practical for the total population to vent their anger on the streets than “smash up a room” in private and cause unnecessary expenses to an individual??. One must remember that the 225 reps are not in the least bit concerned with the sufferings of the people who put them there and the people have a right to be heard.