The 4 Best Anger Management Tips
That may not be exactly how the original saying goes, but surely no one will disagree with this updated one.
There is nothing that disturbs your calmness as much as anger.
It creeps up suddenly and leads to a range of emotions that makes it hard to think clearly, work productively or communicate effectively.
However, anger actually has serious repercussions for our health—such as headaches, insomnia, digestion problems, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety and even heart attack.
Now that you know all the disadvantages that anger can cause, learn 5 of the very best anger management tips to control it:
Breathe Deeply
You have likely heard people telling you to breathe when you get angry, but don’t be surprised if you had tried it and it didn’t work for you.
While everyone is quick to recommend breathing as an anger management strategy, they never tell you HOW you should breathe.
You must learn to breathe from your diaphragm, or your gut, instead of just using your chest to breathe as you normally do.
The deep breaths from your diaphragm are those that slow your heart rate and send oxygen to your brain, which helps you calm down.
Repeat, repeat, repeat
In addition to deep breathing, think of a word or short phrase that you can repeat out loud or silently to yourself to keep your anger at bay.
Your “mantra” can be “it’s OK” or “calm down,” but regardless of what it is, saying it to yourself will help you centre yourself and concentrate on cooling down rather than reacting in the moment.
Visualise
When the situation seems too much for your to handle, step away, close your eyes and visualise your happy place.
This can be a beach with warm sand and calm waves that help you to relax and cool down.
Or, it can be an image of a lazy Sunday, when you cuddle with your loved ones in bed.
Regardless of your vision, it will help your body create endorphins, happy emotions that will help your anger subside.
Write it Down
Oftentimes, we may not be aware of what we are truly angry with.
This is because our subconscious mind can be festering resentments or fears that our conscious mind is not aware of.
To get to the root of your anger, keep a log of what sets you off and how you react.
Doing this can help you find a pattern to your emotions and deal with them in a healthy way.