Anger Management Tips to Help You Stay in Control

Everyone gets angry from time to time. There are any number of situations that might cause you to erupt. However, it's important that you express your anger in an appropriate manner. That's where you need some anger management tips to help you control your outbursts.

You might think that anger is purely an emotion. However, there are also lots of physical responses that accompany those feelings of rage. For instance, your body's heart rate, blood pressure and adrenaline all become elevated when you experience anger. And these conditions are important reasons for you to control your anger properly with some simple anger management tips so you don't damage your health. In addition, when you learn to properly manage your feelings, you can avoid doing irreparable harm to your relations with friends and loved ones.

Here are some anger management tips that will help you stay in control.

Take a Time Out: You probably already know the standard advice regarding controlling your temper – count to 10. The truth is, this technique is actually very effective. Take a few deep breaths and start counting slowly, focusing on the numbers, not your thoughts. If you have difficulty using this method, try just walking away from the situation. Either way, you're giving yourself some time to calm down and look at the issue more objectively. You will likely discover that you can react more suitably to the situation after some time out.

Vent Appropriately: When you experience anger, you will often vent your feelings on the people around you. You'll end up injuring their feelings and stirring up more rage while you're at it. Anger management tips recommended by the experts almost always suggest venting your emotions. However, don't do it while other people are around. Remove yourself from the situation and find a private place where you can release your frustration by yelling out loud, punching a pillow, or any other physical release that doesn't do lasting damage.

Think Positive: Replacing your angry thoughts with positive images is another of the key anger management tips. This technique will work differently for everybody, depending on your personality. Some people like to take their thoughts completely away from the current situation and picture a peaceful scene in their mind. Others will prefer to focus on the situation at hand and put it into proper perspective. Think long term: will this issue actually matter a few days from now? Humor is another great tool for managing your anger. Try to find something about the situation that will make you laugh.

If anger is a problem for you, it's essential for both your health and your relationships that you develop some anger management tips that work for you. If the techniques mentioned here aren't effective, consider taking an anger management class to learn how to control your emotions. The important thing is that you find an anger management strategy that meets your needs and your personality, and be sure to use it when needed.