This article was written by a Kooth writer and contains mentions of the following themes: emotions, anger, and relaxation.
Anger is one emotion people can feel when they get frustrated, confused or upset. But for some, managing that anger and preventing an emotional or physical outburst can be difficult.
Everyone experiences feelings of anger at certain points in their lives, and it doesn’t mean it is a ‘bad’ emotion. Anger is a valid emotion, and sometimes it’s good to feel angry at certain situations or in response to them.
It can also be used positively to inspire people to make a change or stand up for themselves or something they strongly believe in.
However, for some people anger can be something they struggle with.
It can be hard to accept or be in control of their anger. Being angry can make them shout, or perhaps even say remarks to another person to deliberately upset them, even if they do not mean it later on once an argument has cooled down.
For others though being angry can make them physically aggressive, such as by damaging objects and/or property. They may also get violent towards others or cause physical harm to themselves.
If you ever feel like you are not in control when you get angry, or find yourself getting angry very easily it can be as scary for you as it can be for the people on the receiving end of it.
That is why it can be important for us to learn methods to be able to manage and understand our emotions, including anger.
Below, Kooth have put together some top tips on anger management:
It is important that you learn what it is in your environment that causes you to get angry. Could it be:
- A certain individual?
- A certain space?
- Discussing a certain situation/topic?
- When you are feeling stressed?
- When you are feeling tired?
- Feeling scared or threatened?
- Being reminded of a difficult time in your life?
- Remembering a time when someone was angry or aggressive towards you?
Once you recognise what it is that provokes your anger you can then take steps to manage it in certain situations or make changes to your routine in order to improve your mood so that you are less prone to becoming angry.
Anger can present itself through both physical and emotional responses. Physically you might feel your heart beating faster, your muscles getting tense and you may feel hot.
Mentally, you may at first be feeling tense or nervous. You may have felt very uncomfortable or unable to relax for a period of time before getting angry, and your anger may have been provoked by being made fun of in front of others or due to a particular dislike for somebody.
Recognising these symptoms when they are happening can help us to get in control of our emotions and manage our anger.
One effective way to manage anger is to learn relaxation techniques. These can include calming breathing exercises, or learning mindfulness techniques, either online or through an app.
Completing regular physical activity or exercise can be beneficial for our mental health. Remember to only complete activity that is right for you and your body.
Learn more about breathing exercises on the NHS page.
Improving our self-esteem can also make us feel better about ourselves, and therefore less likely to rely on our anger. You can learn more about improving your self-esteem by reading our series below:
Self-Esteem: Building Confidence
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