Anger Management

Anger isn't just what you feel. It's how you react to what you're feeling.

Feeling angry about something? What may surprise you is it isn't just your emotions that are making you feel this way. A part of your brain actually floods your body with natural chemicals that make you FEEL angry. You may feel "something in your gut." Your heart may beat fast or you may become flushed (red) in your face.

We each react to things differently. So the same thing can happen to two people, and only one may react with anger.

There's nothing wrong with anger. A little occasional anger in response to a person or situation is perfectly normal. However when the reaction is so severe or constant that it impacts your ability to function or hurts other people, it becomes damaging.

Thankfully anger can be controlled. Understanding the triggers that cause your anger, reducing stress and developing communication and listening skills are the keys to help you replace anger with peace and happiness. Your EAP counselor and nurse practitioner are specially trained to help you move beyond anger to your own peaceful "happy place."

If you are experiencing any of the following signs and symptoms, Please contact your EAP counselor.

These 7 anger problem symptoms, are by no means, set in stone, but they should at least give you an idea of where you are at this point.

Do you get angry often? Everyone experiences anger from time to time, but getting angry more times than you can count, can be a symptom of an anger problem.

Do you hold on to anger for long periods of time? If so, then you could be causing yourself trouble. Being angry for a small amount of time can be ok – but staying angry for long periods of time, can introduce health problems, or escalate into bigger issues.

There is no set amount of time to be angry, but it’s safe to say that being angry for most of your life, or for years and years can turn into something ugly.

Do you get angry about ‘anything’? We all have our so-called hot buttons. There’s going to be something that can get us angry. Some of us, on the other hand, tend to fly off the handle over any little thing, on a frequent basis. Does that describe you?

Are you allowing your anger to control you? Does everything you do, say, or feel revolve around anger? Going out of your way to avoid getting angry, or constantly being on the lookout for things that can make you angry, gives control to anger – while, at the same time, letting it run your life.

Do you use anger to control others? It should go without saying, that using anger and fear tactics to control someone else is not only hurting you, but those around you. If people are walking on eggshells around you, this could be one of the symptoms of anger problems.

How intense is your anger? If you frequently find yourself getting so angry that your vision starts getting blurred, you get light-headed, or your arms/hands start shaking uncontrollably, you might be looking at a problem with anger.

Are you aggressive when you’re angry? Of course this is not a good sign. This is probably one of the most obvious, yet serious symptoms of anger problems, that are listed here. If you consistently express your anger by getting aggressive – physically or verbally – then seek the help of an anger management professional.

Do you think you have an anger problem, now that you’ve gone through these questions? It’s worth noting that if you have to ask if you have a problem with anger, then if you’re honest with yourself, you already know the answer to that question.

So, the next question to you is what are you going to do about it now?
Realistically, you have a couple of choices here.

1) You can either keep doing what you’ve been doing and keep getting the same results… in other words, keep responding to anger without thinking and continue making yourself and those around you miserable.
Or…

2) You can CHOOSE to find better ways to respond to anger. Ways that will leave you feeling better about yourself and respected by others.

The thing is, you DO have a choice… whether it seems like it or not.

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Ph: 337 990 5308

Resources:http://www.angerdefense.com/blog/7-symptoms-of-anger-problems-how-to-know-if-you-have-a-problem-with-anger/