Poor anger management can lead to the use of drugs, alcohol and other addictive substances
What is anger
You may think that anger management is only for the ones who yell and scream or destroy things. Anger is an emotional response to triggers or events which make a person react in a positive or negative way. Dealing with anger positively can be motivating. For example:
Cultural groups fighting for human rights
Nations getting together to change a system in power
Individuals advocating for changing a law
Communities pursuing changes for a better future
Channeling anger towards change is a good anger management method
Managing anger helps live happier
How does anger affect us
Anger can be an instantaneous reaction to an event, or a buildup of unexpressed negative emotions experienced over time and stored within us. As we experience anger, our body releases the stress hormones that during a prolonged period of time can damage our physical and mental well-being.
Anger damages our brain
Stress hormones released from anger hurt our cognitive processes such as short-term memory, decision making, and judgement. As a result, when anger is not well-managed, we act inappropriately toward others by offending, assaulting or abusing them. We might take rushed decisions and possibly use drugs or abuse alcohol to calm us down. Anger can decrease our ability to focus in situations that require clear and quick responses such as driving. Manifesting anger can become a way of living an unhealthy and destructive life.
Anger takes attention from important decisions that could save your life
Unmanaged anger impacts our loved ones in a negative way
Anger damages our heart
Anger can damage our heart in more than just a physical way by increasing our heart rate and blood pressure and causing other heart issues. It can also destroy relationships with our partners, family members, and friends and cause unnecessary issues and headaches in the work environment. Manifestation of anger in an unhealthy way can indeed have a negative impact on our children’s present and future as it creates an unsafe and threatening environment for their growth.
Talk to a healthcare professional
Often anger comes from underlying health issues. Depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, drug use and other mental health conditions, as well as the inability to deal with everyday stresses, can make you feel irritable, overwhelmed, or even out of control. Don’t wait for things to get ugly. Take control of your anger and learn how to manage it. Get professional help and improve your life.
Take control of your anger, improve your life
Deal with stress the healthy way
Learn ways to deal with stress
Learn breathing exercises: deep breathing relaxes our mind and lowers the heart rate. Stress control: yoga, meditation, dance and other activities are a great way to release stress in a positive way. Take it easy: accept the others for who they are, think like “the bigger person” when someone does things that are not done “your way” and distant yourself from the situations you can’t change or fix. Find new hobbies: explore new thing to do and interests that make you happy, content and give you a sense of fulfillment.