Anger Management

1. Anger Management

2. Anger is an emotion • Anger can be caused by feelings of threatened, harmed, or powerless. • Anger triggers differ for each person (we own it) • Ranges from mild to intense. • Suppressing anger is a bad idea (gonna come out sooner or later). • Can be constructive or destructive. • Learn to deal with it.

3. Recognizing Triggers • Not bad or good, triggers just are. • Different for each person. • Your triggers; your choice of reaction. • If you don’t learn to own it, you can’t learn to change it. • Avoid your triggers

4. Constructive anger • Constructive anger is often low intensity • Signals something is wrong and change is needed. • Good self-motivator. • Handled with care relieves stress before blowup. • Solution focused.

5. Destructive Anger • Destructive anger: intense and self-serving • Frequent and often expressed at wrong time. • Suppressed and unhealthy. • Directed towards someone or something. • Long-term negative consequences.

6. Anger styles • Reactive • Respond immediately, loud and animated. • Linked to elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. • Passive-aggressive • Respond by indirect attack, gossip, silent treatment. • Spend a lot of time thinking how they have been wronged. • Avoidant • Suppress anger. • Damages self esteem and can lead to severe depression. • Direct • You don’t hold it in, but you think before you open your mouth. • Pick your battles; not all require an action.

7. What is your anger style? • Go to this website and find out • http://www.prevention.com/health/emotional-health/how-do-you-express-anger?cm_mmc=MSN_Lifestyle-

8. Learn to deal with it • Understand your anger; easier to deal with when you know the why. • Express your anger; keep a journal. • Take action; eliminate your triggers and fix what ails you. • Don’t obsess; stewing over it just makes it worse and can cause long term health issues. • Keep stress relievers handy i.e. breathing exercises, meditation http://stress.about.com/od/breathingexercises/ht/breathing_ex.htm