Experiencing anger is a normal reaction. Expressing anger in a constructive fashion can be helpful to both yourself and others. However, when an expression of anger causes extreme emotions and unhealthy behavior it is important to determine if you have an anger management problem.
Five Anger Warning Signs
1. Losing Control: Responding with verbal and physical aggression that causes others to fear you. When you look back you regret what you said and did.
2. Regular Occurrence: Frustrating circumstances are resulting in almost daily outbursts of anger. The more often you become angry, the more likely anger has become an unhealthy personal habit.
3. Relationships Hurt: If others are uncomfortable confronting you with important issues because of past heated exchanges, your anger has damaged important relationships.
4. Long Periods of Rage: Thinking and continually talking about a frustrating experience. If you find yourself preoccupied with thoughts of vengeance and hate you are not controlling your anger. Your anger is controlling you!
5. Physical Symptoms: After becoming angry you find yourself having headaches, stomach problems and intense physical tension. These are symptoms of stress and can result in serious medical problems.
Experiencing the above anger warning signs is an indication you may very well have an anger management problem. Anger is learned. Everyone can obtain the skills to respond in a calm and effective fashion when faced with an anger provoking situation.
Short term anger management therapy can help you calm the storm and improve your quality of life.
Click here to find out about Associated Behavioral Consultants:
Anger Management Group Program
Like alcohol, aggressive thinking and behavior often causes traffic tragedies. The streets and highways lay claim to excess of 38,000 deaths annually. Over one hundred Americans die on the roads daily.
Yelling, tailgating and hostile actions behind the wheel are simply life threatening. You can never tell how a confrontation will turn out. Think about it. A moment of rage can lead to a life of regret! As the saying goes; "better safe than sorry". Road Rage is the reason many people end up in trouble with the law and are mandated to take anger management treatment.
Avoid hassles while arriving to your destination by staying calm and composed. Here is the anger free driving:
1. Expect problems on the road. Impolite drivers and careless motorist are the norm out there.
2. Leave yourself extra time for the trip. Late? Being uptight about being late doesn't change anything except stresses you out.
3. Even if others don't, follow all the rules of the road. Traffic laws exist to protect everyone.
4. Have coping thoughts such as "He must be having a bad day, I will avoid him" or "stay calm: getting angry will not change a thing". Poor coping is personalizing the mistakes of others.
5. Courtesy and kindness lead to calmness and cooperation. Acts of kindness are known to reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being. By helping others you're helping yourself.
6. Forget about conflicts and disappointments. During the trip be mindful of your driving and focus on the road ahead.
7. Avoid distractions of cell phones and other gadgets.
8. Stuck in traffic? Take long deep breaths and focus on sensations of these soothing breaths. Try deep breathing and see how your stress level will drop almost immediately.
9. Be grateful for any positive experiences. Enjoy the scenery or appreciate when traffic is moving smoothly. Mindfulness of positive experiences will make the trip more pleasant
10. Avoid drivers who act aggressive. Allow the angry driver to pass.
Follow these directions and arrive at your destination calm and composed.
If you continue to get uptight while driving, contact us to discuss
how you can make the changes to stay calm each time you drive.
Situations which bring us to frustration and provoke anger are challenging. Being disrespected and treated unfairly arouse intense feelings. You can lose control in a split second.
Facing provocation is serious stuff. Reviewing your best options and responding effectively can make a difference. Some of us can process the circumstances and problem solve to avoid unhealthy anger while responding effectively. Problem solving is not innate. It is a learned skill.
If angry episodes are an issue for you, learning problem solving will help. Once you have tried and applied the problem solving steps it will become second nature. Here are the steps: