Anger is a feeling that everyone has experienced at some point, but some people struggle more than others to control their emotions in heated situations. Though it can be difficult to get to the root of our reactions, how to control your anger, however, it’s important to ensure that we can communicate effectively and that our loved ones feel safe and comfortable around us.
There are many ways to control anger. Some people turn to faith, others to therapy, but finding ways to cope with feelings of anger is crucial to maintain relationships long term.
Below are the most effective tips on how to control your anger with ease. Follow me through as I analyze each step you need to take in learning how to control your anger
5 Surefire Tips on How to Control Your Anger
1. Take a Breath: Anger is a strong emotion that can be overwhelming for people. Our bodies have physiological responses to intense situations, and it can be hard to find a moment to take a breath and calm down.
Though it may feel counterintuitive at the moment, taking long sustained breaths can relax your body and mind and help you think about a situation in a more productive way.
Sometimes taking a breath can also take the form of excusing yourself from a situation. For example, walking away from an argument that you’re starting to feel a loss of control in can prevent you from making regretful decisions.
Even just taking a few minutes to blow off some steam can make a huge difference. It may feel daunting to step away from something that’s upsetting you at that moment, but taking time to ensure that the conversation is beneficial for everyone involved is going to have the best outcome in the long run.
2. Learn New Tools: Seeking out therapy, whether it be in a group context or individual can provide you with new tools to help you combat anger at the moment.
Many people who struggle to control their anger find that connecting to others who experience similar emotions helps them feel less isolated. Often in the heat of the moment, people may say things they don’t mean or actually feel comfortable saying.
Anger can make one impulsive, and learning tools to combat those reactions can make a big difference in the long run.
Some of those tools could include small exercises involving counting, physical movement, or relaxation. It may take a while to find something that works for you, but the more you explore your anger and its impacts on your life, the better you’ll be able to handle stressful situations in a controlled way.
3. Find the Root of the Problem: It can be scary for some people to explore the root of their emotional influences, but many people who struggle to contain their anger find that there is a deeper-rooted issue involved. For example, if you grew up in a household where heightened reactions were treated as the standard, that can have an impact on how you react into adulthood.
In addition, if you’re struggling with other aspects of your life, that frustration can build and cause stronger feelings of anger. Sometimes people project their emotions when they’re going through tough times because they don’t feel like they have the patience to process things at that moment.
Also, people who struggle with anger may have some deeper pain that they’re holding, which can make it more difficult to tackle tense moments.
4. Anger Isn’t Always a Bad Thing: Though the way we express anger isn’t always the most beneficial, the emotion itself can be a very productive thing. If we didn’t feel angry, we wouldn’t understand what our boundaries and limits are.
The key is to find ways to talk about your anger in a way that will positively impact your life. When communicating about your feelings, it’s important to thoroughly understand what it is that’s upsetting you, and how it can be prevented in the future. These kinds of healthy conversations can help you and the people around you understand your needs on a deeper level.
Feeling angry isn’t something you need to ignore or avoid. In fact, doing so can lead to more problematic situations in the future.
Bottling up our emotions may lead to emotional outbursts, and feelings of resentment. It’s completely justified for you to want to take some time to reflect before exploring it with someone else, but remember that if you are harboring feelings beyond a certain situation, communication is important.
Reframing the way you think about anger can be a game-changer when it happens to you. Instead of allowing the anger to cloud your judgment, recognizing it for what it is can help you find solutions to how you feel.
It can also help you get a better understanding of what upsets you regularly and why. Though we can’t control other people’s actions, we can control who we spend time with and in what contexts.
5. Be in the Right Spaces: Our emotional reactions are our responsibility, but there are normally other factors at play. For example, if you often find yourself getting angry when in large crowds, then it can be smart to avoid them as much as possible. Though it may be discouraging at first, protecting your mental state is one of the most important things you can do in your life.
Another big issue for some people is their level of intoxication. Since alcohol can affect our ability to make rational decisions, being angry and intoxicated can lead to some heavy and even scary situations. Take note of how alcohol affects you, and be cautious in consuming it heavily.
It’s also a great idea to be open with loved ones if you struggle to control your anger. Being able to seek comfort in those moments can allow you to reflect and react in a way you can feel good about moving forward in life. If there’s someone you trust and can call in a heated moment, they may be able to help you talk through your emotions and set you up for success.
In conclusion, no matter how anger affects you, know that there are plenty of ways you can learn to manage it. You’re human, and it’s never too late to connect to yourself, and your emotions, on a deeper level. Make good use of these tips while to get your desired result. Don’t forget to share with others as well.
