Understanding your Anger

Anger is a natural emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It is typically a response to a perceived threat or injustice and is often accompanied by increased heart rate and tense muscles. While some amount of anger can be healthy and even beneficial in certain situations, excessive or chronic anger can be damaging to both physical and mental health.

In terms of mental health, anger can be a contributing factor to the development of anxiety and depression. This is because angry outbursts can lead to conflicts with others and feelings of guilt or shame, which can then cause a person to withdraw from social situations and become isolated. This isolation can heighten existing mental health issues and even lead to the development of new ones.

Furthermore, chronic anger has been linked to increased levels of stress hormones which can have negative effects on the body over time. This can lead to a variety of physical health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and even an increased risk of stroke.

It is important for individuals to learn how to manage their anger in a healthy way. This may involve identifying the underlying causes of their anger and finding healthy outlets for their emotions, such as exercise or talking to a therapist. In some cases, medication may be necessary to help manage chronic anger.

As well at the heart beating faster and breathing more quickly, it is important to recognise the anger signs such as tension in your shoulders or clenching your fists. Counting to 10 gives us time to cool down, so you can think more clearly and overcome the impulse to lash out. It may also involve learning new coping mechanisms, such as meditation, to help calm down in the moment.

Work out the anger journey.

• What’s the cause?: It’s hard to prevent something if you don’t know what causes it.
• What’s the Trigger?: What is the the causes of your anger? Find our and stay away from those things.
• Meditation: Practice meditation exercises. Work out which works for you and stick to it.
• Break the loop: Address the physical elements, the thoughts and the behaviours that are associated with your anger and you can prevent it from spiralling out of control.
• Ride the storm: Put everything into action. What are you thinking, feel the feelings, control it until the anger leaves.