Learn to manage your anger


Description

Anger is a normal emotion that everyone feels from time to time. But when you feel anger too intensely or too often, it can become a problem. Anger can put a strain on your relationships or cause problems at school or work.

Anger management can help you learn healthy ways to express and control your anger.

Understanding Anger

Anger can be triggered by feelings, people, events, situations, or memories. You may feel anger when you worry about conflicts at home. A bossy coworker or commuter traffic may make you angry.

When you feel anger, your blood pressure and heart rate go up. Certain hormone levels increase, causing a burst of energy. This allows us to react aggressively when we feel threatened.

There are always going to be things in life that make you angry. The problem is that lashing out is not a good way to react most of the time. You may have little or no control over the things that cause your anger. But you can learn to control your reaction.

Who Needs Anger Management

Some people seem to be more prone to anger. Others may have grown up in a household full of anger and threats. Excess anger causes problems both for you and the people around you. Being angry all the time pushes people away. It can also be bad for your heart and cause stomach problems, trouble sleeping, and headaches.

You may need help controlling your anger if you:

How Anger Management Works

Anger management teaches you how to express your anger in a healthy way. You can learn to express your feelings and needs while respecting others.

Here are some ways to manage your anger. You can try one or combine a few:

For More Help

If you need more help dealing with your anger, look for a class on anger management or talk with a counselor who specializes in this topic. Ask your health care provider for suggestions and referrals.

When to Call the Doctor

You should contact your provider:

References

American Psychological Association. Controlling anger before it controls you. www.apa.org/topics/anger/control.aspx. Updated August 9, 2022. Accessed December 1, 2022.

Freedland KE, Carney RM, Lenze EJ, Rich MW. Psychiatric and psychosocial aspects of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine.12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 99.


Review Date: 8/15/2022
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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