Anger can make you feel empowered but when used in poor judgment, it can be destructive. It is usually a response to something hurtful and helps you to protect yourself from further pain or embarrassment. However, if you are often easily angered and react in an intense and confrontational way, it’s time to reevaluate your behavior. People who exhibit uncontrolled anger generally have problems coping with the person or situation at hand so they blame others to help them reduce their anger and deflect the obstacle. Unfortunately, this leads down a negative path of isolation because others are afraid of you, or you are overlooked for a workplace promotion because your boss doesn’t feel like you can handle the stress, or a breakdown of your marriage or intimate relationships. It can also result in physical violence and run-ins with the law.
Thankfully, you can learn how to control your anger utilizing research-based skills and daily life practices. To regain your composure when anger strikes there are some basic skills you can utilize:
1. Incorporate regular exercise into your life to help you relax.
2. Take deep breaths and/or give yourself a time-out from the situation.
3. Look at the other person’s point of view. Listen carefully and even repeat back what you have heard to make sure you are clear.
4. Talk to yourself in a positive way. You are doing the best you can and assume that the other person is as well. For example, there is probably an underlying reason why the waitress is acting so rudely. It could be that she just heard bad news or the chef is behind schedule.
5. Forgive. The longer you hold on to a grudge, the more long-term negative affects you are inflicting on your mind and body. You don’t need to forget, but instead stop being the victim and choose to move on with your life.
6. Don’t make any serious decisions. When you are angry it’s easy to lose sight of the overall picture. Take some time to “sleep on it” until you have cooled down.
7. Laugh out loud. Thinking about something that is funny can raise endorphins and lower the production of stress hormones.
This is the tip of the iceberg. If you are truly interested in challenging yourself and making significant behavioral changes then your options include seeing a psychotherapist for one-on-one treatment, going to traditional anger management classes at a physical site, or taking a program online. Angerclassonline.com is a highly acclaimed and convenient way to learn anger control skills. The benefit of an online course is that you don’t need to miss work, school, or family time to attend a weekly in-person class. Once you enroll, the class becomes available to you access from any Internet connected computer device, anywhere in the United States and at any time of the day or night. Participants go completely at their own pace. When the class has been successfully finished, clients receive a Certificate of Completion to show the court, social worker, attorney, employer or school.
There’s no need to resign yourself into thinking that you are destined for this unhappy lifestyle. Choose to make a change with an affordable and easy to use online anger management training program. Realize that you may have some bumps in the road but with continued commitment, it is possible to learn how to live a calmer and more stable life.