Anger Management: What is Anger Management?

Anger management is the process of:

1. Learning to recognize the signs that you, or someone else, is becoming angry
2. Taking the best course of action to calm down the situation in a positive way 

Anger management does not suppressing anger. 

Importance of Anger Management 

Anger is a perfectly normal human emotion. In fact, when managed the right way, anger can be considered a healthy emotion. However, if it is not kept in check, anger can make us act inappropriate and can lead to us saying or doing things that we will likely later regret. 

Extreme anger can:

• Hurt you physically: It leads to heart disease, diabetes, a weakened immune system insomnia, and high blood pressure. 
• Hurt you mentally: It can cloud your thinking and lead to stress, depression and mental health issues. 
• Hurt your career: It can result in alienating your colleagues, bosses, clients and lead to the loss of respect. 
• Hurt your relationships: It makes it hard for your family and friends to trust you, be honest with you and feel comfortable around you. 

This is why anger management ,or managing anger appropriately, is so important. 

Anger Management Strategies 

Here are some strategiesbthat can help you control your anger:

Strategy 1: Relaxation 

Something as simple as breathing deeply and looking at relaxing images works wonders on calming down angry feelings. 

Try this simple breathing exerciee:

1. Take a deep breath from your diaphragm (don't breathe from your chest) 
2. Visualize your breath coming up from your stomach 
3. Keep repeating a calming word like 'relax'or 'take it easy'(remember to keep breathing deeply while repeating the word) 
4. Picture a relaxing moment (this can be from your memory or your imagination)
5. Follow this relaxation technique daily, especially when you realize that you're starting to feel angry. 

Strategy 2: Cognitive Restructuring 

Cognitive restructuring means changing theanner in which you think. Anger can make you curse, swear, exaggerate and act very dramatically. When this happens, force yourself to replace your angry thoughts with more logical ones. For instance, instead of thinking.  'Everything is ruined ' change your mindset and tell yourself It's not the end of the world and getting angry won't solve this '.

Strategy 3: Problem Solving

Getting angry about a problem that you cannot control is a perfectly natural response. Sometimes, try as you may, there may not be a solution to the difficulty you are feces with. In such cases, stop focusing on solving the problem, and instead focus on handling and facing the problem. Remind yourself that you will do your best to deal with the situation, but that you will not blame yourself if you don't get the solution you desire. 

Strategy 4: Better Communication 

When you're angry, it is very easy to jump to inaccurate conclusions. In this case, you need to force yourself to stop reading, and think carefully about what you want to say, before saying it. Avoid saying the first thing that enters your head. Force yourself to listen carefully to what the other person is saying. Then think about the conversation before responding. 

Strategy 5: Changing Your Environment 

If you find that your environment I stayed cause of your angar ,try and give yourself a break from your surroundings. Make an active decision to schedule some personal time for yourself, especially on days that are very hectic and stressful. Having even a brief amount of quiet or alone time is sure to help calm you down. 

Tips for Anger Management 

The following tips will help you keep your anger in check:

• Take some time to collect your thoughts before you speak out in anger 
• Express the reason for your anger in an assertive, but non-confrintational manner ones you have calmed down. Do some from of physical exercise like running or walking briskly when you feel yourself getting angry. 
• Make short breaks part of your daily routine, especially during days that are stressful. 
• Focus on how to solve a problem that's making you angry, rather than focusing on the fact that the problem is making you angry.