Anger 

Anger is an emotion we all experience at some point, and can sometimes be a helpful way of communicating our feelings about a situation. It does become a problem however, when it is expressed in a harmful way, or over a long period of time. When this happens, our relationships begin to suffer. Anger ranges from mild annoyance to intense rage, and is accompanied by changes in the body, our behaviour, and in our thinking.

The Australian Psychological Society¹ have outlined some key warning signs that anger has become a problem in someone's life:

• Anger involves verbal, emotional, physical or psychological abuse.
• You feel angry a lot of the time.
• People close to you are worried about your anger.
• Anger is leading to problems with personal relationships and work.
• You think you have to get angry to get what you want.
• Anger seems to get bigger than the event that set it off.
• Anger lasts for a long time, and well after the triggering event has passed.
• Anger affects other situations not related to the original event.
• You are becoming anxious or depressed about your anger.
• You are using alcohol or other drugs to try to manage your anger.
• You are getting angry with the people who are closest to you, or with people who are less powerful than you, rather than dealing with the situation that sparked off your anger in the first place.

Anger Management

A Psychologist can help you learn how to manage anger so that your life and relationships are not affected negatively by it. Key steps involved in treatment are learning your own triggers and warning signs, learn physiological relaxation techniques, learn how to take time out and communicate that you need this, monitor and control unhelpful thinking which perpetuates the anger response, and finally learn how to use assertiveness rather than aggressive communication.

More Information

Australian Psychological Society Tip Sheet: Managing your anger

Self Help resources for Anger at Get Self Help.co.uk

1. Australian Psychological Society Tip Sheet: Managing your anger

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