Do Not Just Express Your Anger To Anybody
Brenda Van Niekerk
Make sure you think about who you express your anger to, and take care that you aren't just dumping your anger on the people closest to you, or on people who are less powerful than you. For example, don't yell at your partner, children, or dog when you are really angry with your boss.
Anger triggers the body's 'fight or flight' response. Other emotions that trigger this response include fear, excitement and anxiety. The adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. The brain shunts blood away from the gut and towards the muscles, in preparation for physical exertion. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase, the body temperature rises and the skin perspires. The mind is sharpened and focused.
Many people with severe anger problems have gotten help through forced attendance in anger management classes. Without the lever of the court saying they had to get help with domestic violence issues, they do not have the incentive to change. The anger management classes teach new skills and techniques to deal with frustration. The classes are designed to help people break out of the belief that they are justified in hurting others with their anger.
If anger isn't managed properly, it can lead to aggression and the physical, mental and emotional abuse of yourself or other people. This is shown in many different ways including: sarcastic comments, swearing, name calling, bullying, or physical violence.
Anger can be our friend or enemy; it depends on the way in which we choose to express it. Knowing how to recognize and express it appropriately can help us to reach our goals, solve problems, handle emergencies, and protect our health. A failure to recognize and understand one's anger can lead to a variety of personal difficulties.
Develop an anti-venting policy for your home. Some people still believe that it is necessary to get their anger out by screaming and yelling. This is an old fashioned ideas that has not been proven by research. Venting only makes the person feel more justified in their anger and does not solve the problem being addressed. There are at least twelve other anger responses that can be made instead of yelling. Increase the behaviour repertoire by practicing other ways to deal with anger.
Anger is a normal and healthy emotion experienced by everyone at some point. There are many different reasons as to why people get angry. You may have been treated unfairly, feel you have no control over things, be stressed or under a lot of pressure, experiencing body changes which cause major mood swings, be depressed, or just have a personality that has a short fuse. All can lead to anger, which is ok.
Logic defeats anger, because anger, even when it's justified, can quickly become irrational. So use cold hard logic on yourself. Remind yourself that the world is not 'out to get you,' you're just experiencing some of the rough spots of daily life. Do this each time you feel anger getting the best of you, and it'll help you get a more balanced perspective.
Have a look at http://www.cureangermanagement.com for more information.
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