Does your blood pressure skyrocket when someone cuts you off in traffic?

Do you find it hard to contain your anger when your child disobeys? Do you often say things that you regret? Do you spend a lot of time “venting” about others? If keeping your temper in check is a challenge, you may have anger management problems. If you’re not careful, your anger could negatively impact your health and even your relationships.

Anger management does not mean never getting angry, it’s about learning ways to identify and cope with your feelings so that you can express your emotions in a healthy and productive manner. Anger is a normal and healthy emotion, though when anger turns to rage and gets out of hand, it can become destructive and affect your job, relationships, and your mental health and wellbeing. Often, people that have difficulties with anger try to suppress their angry feelings, this can lead to outbursts.

There are effective therapeutic strategies to help you to better manage your anger. The therapists at Metta Psychology Group can provide practical coping skills that will help you to become less reactive and develop more patience within situations out of your control. 

Some common ways to manage anger include:

  • Take a time out. Step away from the situation. 

  • Once you are calm, express your feelings. 

  • Try to think before responding. 

  • Identify triggers and warning signs.

  • Use humor to release tension.

  • Focus on problem solving. 

  • Practice relaxation techniques.

  • Seek help.

If you are having trouble controlling your anger or rage and are noticing that it is negatively impacting your life, seeking support from a counselor may help. Counselors will aid you in increasing insight into your emotional experience. Learning your personal anger triggers and your related thought processes, will allow you to restructure your negative thought patterns and input more constructive ways of thinking. A psychologist will also be able to determine if there are other underlying factors, for example depression or anxiety that may be impacting your emotions.