Some Tips for Anger Management

Written by: Gauri Sabarwal & Saniya Bedi

Is your anger responsible for the troubles in your life? Do you give knee jerk reactions that you don’t mean to? Do you feel like you are going to explode? If you said "Yes" to any of these questions, keep reading, we are at your rescue!

If you feel that anger is something that can be "eliminated", I am here to bust a myth and probably disappoint you! Have you ever come across "Anger Removal Workshops or Resources"? I am hoping no! If you look around, you will find the phrase, "Anger Management". The reason for that is the fact that all the emotions exist because they serve a purpose!

Anger management does not mean being calm every time and not getting angry at all. Instead, it involves recognising one's triggers, learning how to cope up with them and being able to express one's anger in a healthy way.

So what is anger? Anger is an emotion that can make us feel uncomfortable sometimes. However, sometimes, excessive anger can cause various physiological and psychological problems.

Some tips to manage anger:

• Understand Your Goal: As I said before, it's important for you to review your goal-anger management or anger removal. If it's the latter, then you may have to rethink!

• Pay Attention to your Triggers: Very vigilantly look around and pay attention to all the external and internal stimuli that cause such knee jerk reactions. Be attentive and recognise your triggers throughout the day. Now, try to acknowledge each one of them and understand why that particular thing bothers you so much. Sometimes, thinking about it and providing reasons solve half of your problems. Here's a link to a free downloadable and editable journal- https://www.therapybysaniya.com/product-page/journalling-sheet-editable

• Physical Exercises: Any form of exercise can be helpful. You cannot go out due to the present circumstances? No problem, try and do 10 squats and you shall feel better!

• Acknowledge: Sometimes, we are not able to work on some habits and patterns because we tend to ignore their very presence! We tend to not acknowledge the emotions that come along with the final, visible emotion. E.g. when you feel angry next, try to think if you are feeling angry only or there are a mix of emotions?

• Reach out for Help: If you feel that your anger is really out of control and is hindering your daily life activities, straining your relationships, you must reach out for help to learn how to handle it better. A psychologist or other licensed mental health professional can work with you in developing a range of skills for changing your thinking and your behaviour.

We hope these tips help you! If they do, let us know! We would love to celebrate your success!