Building an anger management routine

A startling 65% of office workers say they have experienced rage during work. More than one in ten people say they have problems controlling their anger. Many people have trouble with anger management, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it consume you. Don’t let yourself become a statistic. From my experience with anger management counselling, I have come to learn the best methods for managing your temper in difficult situations. By following these tips, you can create an anger management routine that will become an automatic response over time. It only takes little steps to change your life around and take control of your anger. These are a few of my best tips now on how to tame your temper.

Try To Think Before You Speak

Avoid saying something you will regret in the heat of the moment by thinking before you speak. By taking a few extra moments to consider your words, you can avoid getting into arguments and fights. As words can damage relationships, you should try to think about the impact your words may have before you say them. Often, what you say when you are angry isn’t really how you feel, but to the person hearing them, they don’t know they aren’t the truth and can feel hurt. You may feel betrayed, upset or annoyed, and say things you don’t mean, but to avoid ruining your relationships and friendships, you should take the time to process your emotions before responding.

Use ‘I’ Statements

Try to avoid blaming or criticizing others when you are in an argument. Try to use statements with ‘I’ rather than ‘you’. For example, saying “I am upset that you were late” rather than “you are always late”. This will help to defuse the situation as you are explaining your emotions rather than complaining about other people. When you begin your sentences with ‘you’ it appears to the other person as an attack. This can lead the argument to escalate as the person feels the need to defend themselves.

Don’t Bottle Up Your Anger

Another key anger management tip is to still express your anger but in a more healthy manner. Don’t suppress your feelings so much that it builds up inside of you. This could lead to an outburst worse than any you have had before. Also, suppressing your anger will only make your issues harder to solve. Allow yourself to express your anger by keeping a journal, or if this doesn’t work, through counselling sessions where you can speak freely without repercussions. Talking or writing about your anger will help you to understand and manage it better. You will be able to find out the true reason you are angry. Knowing this will help you to solve your anger issues by addressing the source of your feelings and help you to move forward.

Learn to Forgive

Learning to let go of your resentment is important if you want to move away from your anger issues. Anger management counselling emphasises the importance of this. People can often hold onto anger for long periods of time. If a person feels betrayed they may never feel like they can forgive. But, if you allow negative feelings to dwell, you will be consumed by bitterness. This can prevent you from ever learning anger management techniques that work. Forgiving yourself for your behaviour and the people who abused your trust allows you both to learn from the situation and move on. This can even strengthen your bonds with those around you.

Exercise Your Anger Away

Exercise is a great form of anger management as it can provide a welcome distraction from the issues you have in your life. There are so many different forms of physical exercise you can always find something to suit you. Classes such as kickboxing and muay thai allow you to physically express your anger. This both provides a means to let off steam and get fit! Exercise also releases endorphins, also known as the happy hormone. They can help you to overcome any negative thoughts and feelings and replace them with positive ones!

Seek Counselling

84% of people believe that those who suffer anger issues should seek help. There are many benefits that stem from speaking about your anger. You can get an outside opinion on situations that have caused you to lash out, get expert advice and tips on anger management, and identify the cause of your feelings. Counsellors that specialize in anger management are there to listen and understand the difficulties your increased anger has brought you and offer solutions. Deciding to speak to a counsellor shouldn’t be scary or intimidating. You are talking to an expert who has likely helped hundreds of other people in your situation and is completely non-judgmental and impartial. They can help you handle your anger management and provide you with the support you need to move forward with a healthier mindset.If you think anger management counselling could help you, or your loved one, please contact me today for more information on the services I offer. I am based in Stretton and easily accessible from Warrington, Chester, Altrincham, Knutsford, Northwich, and Tarporley.