Everyone has experienced anger at some point. (YES, therapists feel angry too!) Very often, however, we have a difficult time dealing with our anger. Lots of things can cause anger. If someone does not respond to a situation the way we want them to, we can get angry. If someone treats us unfairly, we can get angry. If we are stressed out, we are prone to let our anger get the best of us and act out in ways that are inappropriate. Sometimes we get angry at ourselves and turn that anger inward, causing harm to ourselves, or confirming negative beliefs about ourselves. We sometimes even take the anger we feel toward ourselves, out on our loved ones or those around us.
The good news is that with awareness comes change. Once we identify our anger triggers, we can be more mindful and learn new ways of dealing with our anger. We can learn self-calming techniques that will help put our anger into perspective and keep us from acting out in inappropriate ways. This is important because uncontrolled anger can have a negative effect on our physical, as well as mental health. According to researchers at Washington State University, those who lash out in anger are more prone to symptoms that lead to heart attacks. Repressing anger is also dangerous, and a study by Bruce Wright, MD, has shown it can triple your risk of a heart attack. Therefore, the answer is to find a productive means of expressing your anger.
Here are eight self-calming tips for you:
If you find that you are having trouble dealing with your anger, there is help available. A good therapist can help equip and guide you with ways to manage your anger and help you uncover some of the old wounds that keep residence in your mind. Our counselors are trained to listen to your feelings and work to understand your unique worldview. We honor your unique path in life and work to understand your struggle. Together, we will create a counseling plan that works for you! We believe there is hope and you can feel better. Give us a call and get started today!