| Anger doesn't just affect mental health - if | | | | |
| can hurt you physically, socially, | | | | Again, screaming and shouting is important. |
| financially, everything. What are some of the | | | | Don't hold it back for fear of scaring your |
| best resources out there on anger management? | | | | neighbours. When I dealt with my anger, I |
| This article gives some great tips and also | | | | went for long drives alone at night, and |
| lists out all the most effective resources | | | | screamed at the driving wheel. It worked |
| available. | | | | wonders. |
| | | | |
| Anger has a tremendous effect on your mental | | | | Fresh anger |
| health. That much is obvious. It distorts our | | | | |
| thinking, drags us into depression, keeps us | | | | The next kind of anger is "fresh" anger. |
| constantly boiling inside and constantly | | | | While it is a very complex subject, here is a |
| keeps us in a state of war. | | | | bit of information that helps. |
| | | | |
| From there, it spreads out to disrupt our | | | | Fresh anger is triggered by thought. It could |
| outside life - our studies, work, friends, | | | | be a reaction to a current event or person, |
| romances, family relationships. It even hurts | | | | it could be anxiety over the future, or it |
| us physically - many extremely dangerous | | | | could be a painful past memory. These |
| conditions such as cancer and high blood | | | | thoughts could come so fast that you don't |
| pressure are linked to anger. | | | | catch it, and so you go straight into an |
| | | | anger response. |
| First of all, we have to understand what | | | | |
| anger is. Anger is not wrong in any way. Yes, | | | | These emotional responses then strengthen and |
| I believe we can transcend it, but to make | | | | further distort your thoughts, and so it |
| ourselves wrong for being angry will only | | | | begins a vicious cycle. To stop fresh anger, |
| hurt us more. | | | | many anger management resources recommend |
| | | | replacing these angry thoughts with positive |
| What is anger | | | | thoughts "It's not that bad," or "calm down". |
| | | | I personally found it hard to switch thoughts |
| Anger is a protection system - it allows | | | | when you are seeing red. |
| others, and us, to know when something is | | | | |
| wrong. This is especially true in older times | | | | I suggest taking a page from meditation and |
| - if physical action is needed, anger is what | | | | clearing the mind. When you clear the mind |
| lets us fight if we have to, for our own | | | | you stop the thoughts, and the anger dies |
| protection. This is also the reason why anger | | | | soon afterwards with nothing to feed it. |
| sometimes gives us a feeling of power - and | | | | |
| this is why it is so addictive. | | | | The fastest way to stop the thoughts is to |
| | | | watch your breath. This is also a meditation |
| But in this day and age, reacting with | | | | technique. Feel the breath. What does it feel |
| aggression, violence, or shouting is uncalled | | | | like as the air passes through your nose? |
| for. It is often a sign of emotional weakness | | | | What does it feel like as it goes into your |
| and immaturity. (Although sometimes you have | | | | lungs, and as it comes back up? By occupying |
| to tell someone to back off.) | | | | your mind in such a way, it cannot think any |
| | | | angry thoughts - it cannot do more than two |
| Most people know that reacting without | | | | things at once. |
| emotional control is weak, and so they try to | | | | |
| keep their cool. They do in the wrong way, | | | | Great Resources |
| however, and they end up repressing their | | | | |
| anger - which leads to all the ills we | | | | Of course, these are just very basic |
| mentioned above. | | | | overviews on anger management. There are some |
| | | | great resources, but it can be a while to |
| Anger management resources are vital in | | | | sift through the rubbish. |
| differentiating between the right and wrong | | | | |
| ways in controlling anger: You could lose | | | | Here are some of the works that I recommend: |
| more than just your mental health. | | | | |
| | | | A New Earth or The Power of Now by Eckhart |
| To make things easier, I'll differentiate | | | | Tolle: His spiritual works don't cover just |
| between two types of anger: Repressed, and | | | | anger but every thing that could disturb your |
| "Fresh". They are dealt with in different | | | | peace and happiness. |
| ways. | | | | |
| | | | The Australian Psychological Society has a |
| Repressed anger | | | | strictly psychological approach: They have a |
| | | | small free online guide. |
| For repressed anger, here's a quick summary | | | | |
| of how to release it: Let it all hang out, | | | | I've taken the best of both spiritual and |
| but not on the person or event that makes you | | | | psychological approaches (both used to |
| angry. Find somewhere you can be alone. | | | | overcome my own crippling anger), and written |
| | | | a more comprehensive ebook for free anger |
| Then, simply give your anger a voice. Scream | | | | management and sadness. |
| out whatever has been tearing you up - | | | | |
| everything that you've wanted to say. Scream | | | | Lastly, I'd like to congratulate you on |
| until you become the scream. This is the most | | | | taking steps, looking for anger management |
| important ingredient. Take some safe physical | | | | resources, and looking after your mental |
| action at the same time. For people who like | | | | health. A lot of people don't even recognise |
| punching, punch the pillow. For those who | | | | that they have a problem. As a result their |
| feel better twisting, find a thick towel and | | | | mental health deteriorates until it - or |
| twist it with all your might. | | | | their lives -hit rock bottom. |