Do You Struggle to Control Your Anger?
Anger itself is not a problem – it is how a person handles it. Consider the nature of anger, as well as how to manage anger and what to do when confronted by someone whose anger is out of control. Anger is a natural response to perceived threats. It is a warning bell that tells a person when something is wrong. One might experience an increase in muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure. Anger might trigger or encompass other emotions, such as sadness, disappointment or frustration. Anger becomes a problem only when it is not managed in a healthy way.
Why Do People Come to Us for Anger Management?
Learning to control anger is a challenge for everyone at times. Consideration to seek help for anger issues should be made if anger seems out of control, causes someone to do things they will regret, hurts others around them or is taking a toll on personal relationships. American Behavioral Clinics offers help which focuses on:
Learning what anger is
Identifying what triggers anger
Recognizing signs that lead to becoming angry
Learning to respond to frustration and anger in a controlled, healthy way
Exploring underlying feelings, such as sadness or depression
Anger management classes and counseling can be done individually, with your partner or other family members, or in a group.
What Causes People to Get Angry?
There are many circumstances that might cause a person to feel threatened about – from financial crises and peer pressure to drug addiction and war – and some people respond in a negative way. Still, most people do not walk around feeling mad all the time. When someone explodes with anger, there is usually a triggering event such as a disagreement at work or being stuck in traffic – that brings a mix of simmering emotions to the boiling point.
A person’s personal history feeds their reactions to anger as well. That is why some people react so angrily to certain situations, such as losing a parking space, while others take it in stride. For example, if a person was taught that being angry is a negative thing, they might not know how to express anger appropriately – so their frustrations simmer and make them miserable, or build up until they explode in an angry outburst. In other cases, changes in brain chemistry or underlying medical conditions can trigger angry outbursts.
Why it is Not ‘Bad’ to Feel Angry?
Being angry is not always a bad or negative thing. Being angry can motivate people to listen to their concerns. It can prevent others from walking all over each other. Additionally, it can motivate someone to get involved with causes that they care about. The key is managing anger in a healthy way.
What’s the Best Way to Handle Anger?
When someone is angry, they can choose to express or suppress the emotion. Here is the difference:
Expression: This is the act of conveying your anger. Expression ranges from a reasonable, rational discussion to a violent outburst.
Suppression: This is an attempt to hold in or ignore anger. It also includes passive aggressive responses – in which a person dot not express their anger constructively but instead scheme to retaliate. Ideally, they will choose constructive expression – stating concerns and needs clearly and directly, without hurting others or trying to control them.
The professionals at American Behavioral Clinics can help manage anger in healthy ways by helping to express emotions instead of suppressing them. They can also help friends and family know what to do when they are confronted by a loved one whose anger is out of control.
