Anger is a healthy and natural emotion. However, when this anger turns into physical outrage, it can negatively affect your life and the people around you. Sometimes uncontrollable anger can lead to yelling at your partner, co-workers, breaking things around you, hurting yourself or someone around you, and worse, it can lead to physically abusive behavior.
Besides, extreme anger also impacts your physical health leading to high blood pressure and other effects. Managing your anger can be challenging for people who have neglected their anger issues for years. It is essential to break the continuous chain and learn how to control your anger so it does not affect you or your loved ones.
Oklahoma City counseling specialists can help you recognize your anger and provide an effective anger management solution to deal with your anger positively. Below are a few tips you can follow:
- Recognize your triggers: Instead of blaming certain people for your anger, it is vital to identify your triggers. This could be as little as traffic jams, specific comments, seeing things you do not like, or anything else. Once you recognize what is leading you towards the emotion, you can practice specific anger management techniques before facing them, or if possible, avoid them.
- Recognize physical warning signs: Physical warning signs of anger may include anxiety, pounding heart, shaking, gritting your teeth, clenching your fist, sweating, raising your voice, feeling tightness in your chest, and more.
- Take deep breaths and think before you speak: Sometimes in the heat of the moment, you may end up saying things that can ruin your relationships or something that you will regret later. Instead of directly expressing your anger, take long, deep breaths and think about what you want to communicate as soon as you are triggered.
- Write down your feelings: Although in certain situations, you may suddenly put out a “bust of emotion,” sometimes writing down your feelings or things going on in your head can help control your anger. Additionally, once you are calmed down, you can evaluate your feelings and see things differently.
- Get some exercise or an alternative activity: One of the best ways to cope up with your anger is to get your body moving. Exercise can be beneficial for your health and release your anger. You can also go for alternatives like drawing, painting, sketching, skating, swimming, dancing, singing, or any other activity that brings you a bit of joy.
Every person has a different way of coping up with anger. Sometimes, what works for one person may not work for another. If you feel your anger is getting uncontrollable, do not hesitate to reach out to a counselor for help.
