Managing Your Anger In Stressful Situations

Have you ever watched the movie “Anger Management”? Pretty intense, isn’t it? Truth be told, having anger issues is actually quite common, albeit not that extreme for most of us. I mean, it is part of being human to experience the whole spectrum of feelings, anger included. And stress is one of the things that can bring about anger.

When an individual is dealing with anger issues, usually their emotions evolve when put in stressful situations. In some cases, difficult situations provoke such a sense of stress and perhaps helplessness that a person’s only way to cope with it is to get defensive. Dealing with the situation is tough, but becoming angry is an easier and more immediate response.

This is actually quite unfortunate because if we are honest, we know that anger itself doesn’t solve anything. Once the anger subsides, the problem is still there. That is why in the world of counselling, we call anger a secondary emotion, because it is simply a manifestation of inner pain, helplessness or frustration. Learning how to deal with it is a great adaptation.

There are anger management tips which people can used when found in stressful situations. If there is a friend or family member who is easy to talk to and understanding, it might be good to talk to them. Of course this will depend on whether they are available or not. Often times, angry people are incapable of seeing the other side of the problem, which is part of its cause.

Talking to someone may help them by sharing their side of the story i.e. venting. The friend or family member may be able to help them sort through their issues and make them look at the situation from the other side. This anger management tip may work well for some people. This is because we naturally trust some people more than others, and good family members and friends are the frontline of this – for most of us anyway!

Another great anger management tip is to write down thoughts and feelings while one is expressing anger. This takes discipline, but it is very effective. The angry individual may feel as if nobody understands or cares about their problems. By lashing out and sharing this publicly in a tactless manner, one will be perceived as immature and lacking self-control.

Furthermore, an angry outburst often gets a person nowhere. Writing or journaling may help people with anger issues. You see, when one journals, no one is there objecting or disrupting one’s thoughts, which also means that nobody else is there to inflame the situation, at least at that time point.

There is another hidden benefit to journaling for anger. Using writing as an anger management tip may also help in the future when trying to find the triggers which cause the angry outbursts. Being able to look back over the information written may give insight to the root causes of the outbursts and subsequently help them identify trigger points.

Of course, some people swear by the use of prayer and meditation as anger management tips. Both of these suggestions involve very personal practices for an individual, and of course this will not work for every single person. Given a chance to pray and be alone with one’s thoughts is a good way to release tension and let the pressures of life wash away.

Letting go of feelings of anger and negative thoughts would definitely make a positive change in a person’s life. Through prayer and meditation a person is able to dig deep into their minds and souls for answers to their problems and comfort for their broken spirits. From a Christian perspective, not knowing how to control one’s anger shows a lack of self-control, which is not displaying a Fruit of the Spirit that is mentioned in Galatians.

In the long-term, removing oneself from a stressful environment for a while can be good too. Taking a vacation or spending some alone time are excellent tips from anger management. Being able to get away and reflect on their actions may help an individual to look at things differently. Given space and time may be positive for a person with anger issues.

Apart from these, there are also heaps of anger management tips which people can practice when the going gets tough. Some things that can be done include breathing deeply, exercising, getting more rest, getting out in nature, finding humour in the situation, and playing or listening to music. There is no surefire way that works for everyone, so you’ll just have to explore different options and formulate a plan. It’ll do you a world of good, seriously.

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