Anger Management
Pt 1
Studies have shown that people experience the emotion of anger eight to ten times a day. Anxieties, depression, fear, and grief drain the body of physical and emotional energy. Anger releases energy into the nervous system and makes a person ready for action. The difficult part of this release is to use the burst of energy in a constructive way verse a destructive way. Often anger takes the form of rage, fury, resentment, hostility, and other forms of emotional outbursts. When people hold grudges, are annoyed, irritated, disgusted, frustrated, offended, and /or infuriated they are most likely going to experience some form of anger. When anger controls us it becomes unhealthy. When we can control our anger, it can turn into something healthy. If people are controlled by their anger they will have destructive behaviors which could include physical, emotional, and verbal abuse and violence. Healthy anger allows a person to use this same energy and carefront the evil, right the wrongs, and turn things around from the bad to the good. Martin Luther King said,” When I am angry, I can write, pray, and preach well, for then my whole temperament is quickened, my understanding is sharpened and all mundane vexations and temptations are gone.”
Anger Management
Pt 2
In order to carefront and control unhealthy anger one must commit to a plan of counter attack in advance. We must be in a place where we can think clearly and accurately. If we can understand the power of anger, we can harness it into something productive. The following tools are for us to create a game plan to respond with healthy anger.
- Be aware. One myth of many relating to anger is that anger will show itself through appearance and actions. The reality is that a battle may rage in a very calm demeanor. One must identify what makes them most vulnerable to anger. Everyone is different
- Accept responsibility. It is very easy to blame shift and hold others hostage for our anger. People don’t lose it they choose it. It is ultimately our choice. That is why it is so important to choose healthy anger
- Identify the source. Anger is a result of something that has happened to me or to someone else. People who hurt feel vulnerable and can open the door for more hurt. Identifying frustrating personalities or uncomfortable events and circumstances an help us recognize a root to our anger.
- Choose a healthy response. This is a critical piece of anger management. We must find creative and constructive ways to control our response. This means being honest, open, and direct in communicating. It’s recognizing truth and righting wrongs.
