Anger Management

Remember, our goal is for overall life wellness and we are working toward keeping our mind, body, and spirit in harmony. The first two parts to work together are the mind and body – spirit is closer to the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We will get there. But anger is important because of the impact that anger can have on our bodies and it’s completely manageable.

But first, part of managing anger is learning to recognize the signs that you are angry. Everybody’s signs can be different. Some people get red faces (this is the blood rushing to your face b/c the pressure went up), sweaty palms, faster beating heart (adrenaline – not good for your body!), shaking body parts, clenched jaw, inability to speak, feeling like your head is about to pop, increased breathing… those are just a few. If you can recognize the signs, you can address the anger faster. At this point, it might be best to walk away and try one of those coping skills we talked about before. This way you give yourself time to calm down before you say or do something you might regret.

Another reason to pay attention to the signs is for you to say to yourself, “My face is feeling hot which means I’m starting to get angry. What is making me angry?” So what does make us angry? Is it when someone else is yelling at us? Is it when we got a bad review from someone else? Is it because there’s traffic? Knowing what situation is making you angry is recognizing your triggers. It’s important to know your triggers so that you can learn to respond differently to them. 

When you see a trigger happening or being discussed, you can exit the situation before it brings your emotions to anger. This can be by leaving or by asking the people you are with to change the topic. The most important thing to do is to breath – slowly. This will help to keep your heart rate as low as possible. As you breathe, tell yourself, ‘don’t respond without thinking.’