SOME TIPS FOR ANGER MANAGEMENT

Anger is an emotion that is a response to a thought, event or feeling. That response was learned by you over time and can be changed. Feeling angry doesn’t feel good and often the person who is hurt the most is ourselves. Below are some suggestions to help you challenge how you respond and hopefully give you some tools for change.

Anger is frequently a reaction to other emotions such as fear, shame, guilt or feeling inadequate or rejected.

Anger can also come from unrealistic expectations you have for others or yourself. Accept that it is not necessary for others to have the same expectations as you. Be willing to examine whether your anger is fueled by the need to be “perfect”, “right” or how you think you or others “should” be.

When you are not angry practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, imagining yourself in a beautiful, peaceful place or progressive muscle relaxation, so you can be ready to use one of these techniques when you feel yourself getting angry.

Don’t personalize situations. Not everything is about you. Think of alternative reasons why someone may have done something rather than automatically assuming it was directed at you.

Accept that it is okay to agree to disagree.

Develop empathy for others by putting yourself in their shoes.

Try ways to defuse your anger by deep breathing, counting to ten, removing yourself from the situation, etc.

Accept that you cannot always have things your way or how you think it should be.