Anger is a powerful emotion that we all feel at one time or another. It’s a normal response to the perception of threat, disappointment, uncertainty, and unfairness. If we think that someone or something has been done to us unjustifiably, it makes us angry. Some people are able to weigh out the particular situation in their mind and eventually get over the angry emotions and move on. However, some of us have trouble letting go and walk around with constant tension and anger that negatively impacts daily life, relationships, success at work or in school, and overall mental health.
It’s when anger gets in the way of rational thinking, that people get themselves in trouble. Anger gets the mind and body in a state of alert. It can increase the heart rate, blood pressure; kick starts the nervous system and blood flow to the muscles, and sharpens the senses. Once the feelings get elevated to this state, it’s sometimes hard to hold back and respond in a productive manner. Angry people might express their feelings verbally by shouting at or threatening others, or physically. The long term harboring of intense anger has been linked to mental health problems like depression and anxiety and physical problems like compromising the immune system, heart disease, stroke, cancer and gastro-intestinal issues.
The good news is that individuals do not need to go through life with these intense emotions. There are ways to help people deal with their anger, that are taught in anger classes across the world. Some key suggestions for managing anger include:
· Pause for a moment – when you feel that trigger, stop and take a deep breath to give rational thinking a chance. Remove yourself from the situation by taking a walk or leaving the room. Count to 10 before you respond. Redirect your energy in another way until you have time to think about what to say.
· Get active – take care of yourself by spending time to exercise and get your endorphins flowing. Yoga, meditation and stretching can help with relaxation. This gives you time to think about the situation while also improving your overall health.
· Change the way you talk to yourself – think in a more positive manner and reduce expectations of yourself and others. Instead of telling yourself that you are unsuccessful at something, change your thought bubble to reassure yourself that you are doing your best.
· Take ownership of your feelings – use effective communication skills to help you get your point across. This includes making the situation about you and not about them and explaining your feelings in a calm manner. Don’t blame other people for your emotions.
A cutting edge way to now get a handle on the difficulties you are facing with anger control is to take an online anger management class. Online classes give participants the ability to learn the tools they need to control anger while staying in the relaxed environment of their own homes. Anger classes online can be accessed from any Internet based computer, and at any time of the day or night. Many people like this option because they are too busy to try and get to a classroom at a certain time each week. It also gives the client complete privacy and the ability to focus on their own issues, not a roomful of other people’s problems. Take an online anger course today to help yourself live a calmer, more relaxed life.