Anger is a difficult emotion to express positively. In fact, most people have trouble expressing it at all. When you suppress your anger instead of handling it, it begins to surface as different emotions, such as frustration, guilt or jealousy. The longer it stays, the more comfortable it gets and the more often it is revealed to the world. Eventually, anger can turn into something extremely destructive. The key to letting go of the habit of holding your anger in is learning to express it in a healthy way.
First, you have to learn what unhealthy ways of dealing with anger look like. A few examples are as follows:
- Not expressing your emotions.
- Sarcastic remarks or responses.
- Lying.
- Ignoring and avoiding.
- Making arguments longer than necessary.
- Being condescending towards those around you.
- Denying love.
- Verbal or physical abuse.
- Lashing out on the wrong people.
These are healthy ways of coping:
- Try to let things happen, instead of anticipating or setting a bar.
- Understand that people have flaws, and that you cannot change them. If something they do or say bothers you, it’s important to say how you feel.
- Communicate with the person you’re upset with- not with someone else.
- Say what you have to with love.
- Seek to solve problems and compromise.
- Accept that you don’t have control.
- Leave room for constructive criticism, without taking it too personally.
- Remove old habits and trade them for better ones.
- Know that nothing and no one is perfect.
- If you’re feeling angry, express it when it’s happening. Don’t hold it in.
- Channel your anger into something positive, like a passion or helping someone else out.
- Learn from your mistakes.
- Get familiar with yourself and your feelings.
- Be patient.
Realizing healthy ways of managing anger is essential to your well-being and your relationships with others. What mindset shift can you make today to better manage your anger? If you’re interested in learning more about managing your anger, de-stressing and living a better life, click here to learn more about our programs.