Anger Management ~ The art of taking control

Anger is an emotion. The physical effects of anger include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Some view anger as part of the fight or flight brain response to the perceived threat of harm. ~ Wikipedia

Dealing with anger and its repercussions can be very challenging. Unaware of how to handle irritating and stressful situations may be a reason for many fits of anger and rage. Most people, with the exception of young children perhaps, recognize their problem with uncontrollable anger. Although there are many anger management activities which would enable them to better cope with confrontational situations, some people are unaware of these techniques and activities.

There are many anger management activities individuals can practice or participate in when attempting to cope with daily feelings of anger. One activity which is recommended for anger management is exercise. Exercise has been proven to have a positive impact on an individual’s mood. Exercise helps an individual to decrease any negative feelings they might be experiencing. An effective anger management activity might be as simple as going for a walk or jog in the park. Visiting the gym to work out of taking part in their favorite sport may work well for an individual as an anger management activity. Taking a hike or spending a few hours in the beauty of nature would definitely allow a person to clear their head and release tension. Outdoor anger management activities would surely create an environment of serenity.

“Anger is a great force. If you control it, it can be transmuted into a power which can move the whole world.”~ William Shenstone

When considering anger management activities, an individual ought to choose one which they find interesting and enjoyable. Sticking a person in an unfamiliar setting may create feelings of anger which is not the intention of anger management activities. Finding an activity that works should be the key focus.

In my practice one of the tools that I always teach  my client is the art of breathing. The concept is simple yet most of the time we are so consume by our daily life, that this art has to be re taught  from the beginning.  Experts in the art of breathing say that breathing deeply relieves our bodies of tension and stress, and enables us to control our emotions intelligently. That’s why you hear people often say, “before you  shout at anyone, count to 10 and breathe slowly.” It is said that the mere act of controlled breathing calms our nerves and diminishes our anger.

“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.”

Effective breathing is deep abdominal breathing. When our lower abdomen expands when we inhale and the air flows deeply into our stomach, then we are breathing correctly. Start by taking in a breath with four counts, than hold the breath and count another four, follow by releasing all the breath out at the count of eight.

There are various technique that as a therapist we teach our client and patient. Ultimately it also depends on the root course of the anger. Our job requires time in taking history of client and further understand what triggers the anger. With that we go about helping them take control and thus assist in their journey of self-recovery.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. ~ Buddha

So in the mean time enjoy life with a pinch of salt, laughter can  be the best medicine.

For more information about managing your anger, visit Professional Mindworks.