by Brandi Carpo

Created on: November 05, 2007

We've all felt it at one time or another. Your adrenaline starts flowing, muscles tense up, heart starts beating faster, your mind is irritated and you lash out at anyone or anything that crosses your path at the wrong time. It's called anger. If left unmanaged, anger can lead to problems with your health, personal relationships and work. Anger can be fueled by anyone and anything, how you control the anger may depend on what caused the anger to start with.

Determine the source of your anger. You may need to figure out first what's causing you to become angry before you can control your anger. Does your anger stem from something completely out of your control, or did it derive from something you can change and control the outcome of? Don't let your anger build until you can't control it.

Take several deep breaths from your diaphragm. Focusing on deep breathing helps to move your mind away from the source of your anger. Taking deep breaths forces extra oxygen into your system which helps balance the brain chemical serotonin which controls your mood and aggression. When you're angry, you take shallow breaths and less oxygen is forced into the body.

Clear your mind. When you're angry you don't tend to think logically. Before you act on your anger, ask yourself a couple questions. Was the person who made you angry trying to intentionally ruin your day? More than likely, the answer is no. If you can't come up with a good reason why they'd want to ruin your day intentionally, then you're probably making more out of the situation than need be.

Walk away if you need to. Come back later when you are calm and more reasonable in your thought process. If your anger is caused by someone else's actions, think before you speak to them. Be clear about what you are asking, refrain from sarcasm, and tell them how you feel. Listen to the other person, and remember they are entitled to an opinion too.

Think about something positive. If you're worried about something and it's making you angry, think about something that makes you feel better. Think about your pet at home that loves you unconditionally. Shifting your focus to something positive will help to alleviate your anger.

If you feel you are unable to control you anger and it is affecting your quality of life, consider counseling to aid you in handling your anger. Life is filled with emotions, and anger is something we will always come across from time to time in our life. Taking responsibility for how you react to it is the key to controlling your anger.

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