5 Ways To Control Anger

Do you have a bad temper when something or someone upsets you? How do you handle it? Do you throw things, punch walls, or do some other kind of damage? You yell and scream, say things that hurt people's feelings, and once you calm down, you regret. Regardless of how your anger manifests the reality is that your inability to handle situations calmly may be doing more damage than you realize.

Everyone experiences emotions and we all certainly at some points in our lives experience anger. But how do you control that anger and stop it from hurting both you and the people you love? Here are 5 ways to control anger.

1. Learn To Identify Situations Or Circumstances That Upset You

What makes you mad? Because until you can identify what situations really just take you to level 12, you're never going to be able to control it. Once you identify these situations or circumstances that make you super pissed or upset or losecontrol, then you can try not to be or get yourself in those situations.

2. Identify The Anger As Soon As It Starts

Usually, when we get upset, it builds. Anger isn’t something thatjust comes banging out all of a sudden. It starts somewhere and then graduates into something bigger. Now, it can gradually increase fast and escalate quickly, but if you can identify thatfeeling that you get when you start to get intensely angry or upset, then you can deal with it. If you can identify the feeling when it first starts, you can do things to help you not escalate and really, it's this escalation that gets things way out of handand out of control.

3. Think Before You Speak

This is really a tough one, I know. You see, those words just want to come out and fly, but the issue is that once it's out there in space you can't take it back and words a lot of times can hurtpeople much more deeply and serverely than physical violence. A lot of times saying something horrible to somebody can be much worse than getting punched in the face, so always think before you speak.

4. Practice Relaxation Techniques

Practice those relaxation techniques when your temper flares, perform deep breathing exercises, repeat a calming word or phrase such as “it’s okay, calm down,” or picture a relaxingscene. You might do a few yoga poses, write in a journal, or even listen to music -whatever it takes to encourage relaxation.

5. Do Not Hold a Grudge

Forgive; don't allow anger and a host of other negative feelings crowd out the positive ones. Do not allow yourself to beswallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice. The truth is, if you can forgive someone who angered you and not hold a grudge, you both might learn from the situation. After all, it is unrealistic to expect everyone to behave exactly the wayyou want them to at all times.

We all get angry, some of us more than others but learning how to control that anger and react more positively to it is not just generally a good idea, but it could reduce your risk for heart disease. Use these 5 tips to control anger.