Facts on Anger Management

Anger management is the process of controlling feelings of anger and learning to deal with frustrating situations in productive ways. Normal anger passes, but if anger is allowed to get out of control or if it occurs frequently, it can become harmful to the angry person or the people around him. Treatment options exist for anger that has become unmanageable.

What Is Anger?

Anger is a healthy, normal emotion. Generally, it is a reaction to a feeling of frustration or an upsetting event. Everyone experiences anger from time to time. According to the American Psychological Association, it "is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your energy hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline."

Symptoms of Excessive Anger

Anger can affect a person's physical and mental health. Too much anger can make a person physically ill; symptoms might include headaches, muscle aches, high blood pressure, or even heart attack or stroke. Mental health symptoms can include anxiety, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. These symptoms may be severe and often lead to even larger problems, so anger must be managed before it takes over a person's entire body.

Signs That Anger Management Is Needed

There is such a thing as being too angry. A person who finds herself acting in ways that seem irrational or overblown may have anger management difficulties. Unmanaged anger can lead to aggression, which may cause the angry person to hurt herself or the people around her (physically or verbally/emotionally). If this is the case, anger management therapy may be needed.

Self-Help Techniques

There are ways to control anger on your own. Exercise can help with anger management because it provides a relaxing environment for introspection and isolation. Physical activity also helps reduce stress and increase endorphins, which make us feel better.
Relaxation techniques such as meditation, prayer, listening to soothing music or practicing yoga can help a person calm down and regain control of his emotions. Often, just scheduling time to be quiet and think can improve anger management.
In the heat of an angry moment, a person can try counting to 10 or removing herself from the situation. Distance from the situation can provide the perspective needed to calm angry feelings.

Professional Help Options

If relaxation techniques and exercise do not improve anger outbursts, professional help may be needed. Anger management counseling is available. The counselor will help the patient think through the triggers that cause his anger and discuss how to deal with those triggers in healthy ways. According to the United Kingdom's National Health System (NHS), a typical anger management treatment program will include one-on-one counseling and small-group therapy sessions.