Anger Management & Handling Stress

Throughout all of my life, I have had a little bit of trouble controlling my emotions, which would occasionally translate into sudden bursts of anger.I took anger management classes, as well as therapy to try and learn how to cope with my anger, so that when I felt like I was going to freak out, I could help calm myself down. The point of this post is for me to help others come up with solid methods that can help you cope with your stress, and manage your anger, using my experience as well as knowledge when it comes to anger management.

I've found that the most effective strategy is to either use an existing hobby, or take up a new hobby, in order to help reduce your stress levels and focus on something else. The actual hobby itself doesn't really matter, it could be biking, running, playing guitar, or reading, however try to select something that is stress free (for example do not pick video games, as these can sometimes cause more stress than they do relief). Whenever you are feeling upset, try working on your hobby; for example if I am feeling stressed out about something that happened with a friend of mine, instead of sitting around thinking about how upset you are, you should instead try to take your mind off of the issue and indulge yourself in your hobby. This strategy is a long term strategy, one that you can use whenever you feel like you need to calm down; it can also help you come up with a solution to the issue that may be bothering you, as after you have returned to a rational state of mind, you will be more likely to make good decisions that will help resolve the issue.

My second method is to use music; in an era where almost everyone owns a smartphone, tablet, or iPod, next time you are feeling stressed, put on some music that makes you feel relaxed and at ease. I find that even when doing homework, playing relaxing music can help take some of the stress away from the work, and make you feel more comfortable with your anger. If you are experiencing some kind of bullying or in an argument, you can also sometimes temporarily resolve the issue by ignoring them and putting your ear-buds into your ears, to help block out some of the negativity. However similar to the first solution, the only real way to fix bullying is to tell somebody about it, and address the problem head on; while these solutions are useful during the height of your stress, if you are being bullied the best thing you can do is reach out to somebody for help.

The third tactic I use is specifically effective when battling anxiety, which is to think of somewhere that you love, whether it is a vacation destination, a cottage, or laying on your couch watching television. Although it is the oldest trick in the book, whenever your stress levels are built up, closing your eyes and doing a little daydream is a quick and effective way to slip away from your tension for a few minutes. Hopefully after you have gone on your little mental vacation, you will be less stressed, and able to think clearly again.

I hope some of my readers use some of the strategies I have attempted to teach you today, and please let me know in the comments if they were effective for you, or if you have other methods that I didn't mention today that work for you! Thanks for reading!