Anger is a natural emotion, but when you let your anger spill over in hurtful ways, it’s not healthy nor productive. Dealing with your angry emotions is key to better relationships and peace in your own life.
Speaking with a psychotherapist can help you learn more about your anger and teach you better ways to express your anger. Getting professional help with anger management in Ottawa can help you respond more effectively and calmly when you do get angry.
1. What are the four stages of anger?
For most people, anger comes in different intensities. The first stage is annoyance. You might be annoyed because someone crossed a boundary or acted inappropriately. You can also experience anger when you’re impatient or hungry. Next comes frustration, this is when the annoyance becomes more bothersome and causes your stress levels to rise. The third stage is hostility. At this stage, you don’t tolerate frustrating events. The fourth stage of anger is rage. You’re completely out of control and blow up at the slightest annoyance. You may experience your body physically reacting when you get angry.
2. What level of anger is normal?
Each person experiences anger differently, not only due to the circumstances and the situation, but also due to their own anger threshold. The person who normally doesn’t get angry in traffic jams may have a different reaction if they are in an accident or if they feel they are being treated unfairly. Getting angry over an injustice may be warranted, when getting angry over your co-worker taking the last donut could be detrimental. Anger isn’t a bad emotion; it’s how we react that gets us into trouble in our personal relationships or in other situations.
3. What happens when you get angry too much and too often?
Constantly getting angry and exploding in rage, can cause health problems, such as high blood pressure, insomnia, and heart attack from the stress. If you aren’t dealing with anger in appropriate ways, it will damage your relationships. Explosive, bottled or repressed anger can lead to depression, or you may vent your anger at innocent victims, such as your partner, kids or pets or even strangers.
4. What are some proven ways to manage anger?
Anger is a signal that something is wrong. It’s a normal emotion when you can process it and handle it in a healthy manner. If you are feeling out of control, it is probably a sign that you need anger management in Ottawa. When you start to feel angry, it is OK to step back from the situation, take a few minutes, and work on managing your emotions.
- Step back and count to 10 before responding.
- Use your words to embrace the conflict with another person. Constructive criticism can often lead to positive results.
- Talk to a psychotherapist, psychologist, social worker, or spiritual leader to help you deal with your emotions.
5. What are the recognized levels of anger management?
Understanding the cycle of anger can help you understand your reaction to handle the situation more effectively. The anger cycle includes: trigger, escalation, crisis, recovery, and depression. Recognizing where you are in the cycle can help you take a step back before exploding and hurting others. Understanding what triggers your anger is an important step to managing your anger.
6. How can therapy and counselling help with anger management?
A therapist or counsellor is a valuable resource to help you manage your emotions and control your responses. Your therapist can help you develop coping skills that you can use in the moment to regulate your temper. You may also work with a therapist in Ottawa to help you change your unhealthy thought patterns that may fuel your anger. Talk therapy can help you with anger management.
7. What is the best treatment for anger?
There is no cure for anger itself. When anger reaches the point that you are out of control, anger management can help you become less reactive to the situation. Therapy can help you improve your communication skills, emotional regulation, and focus on problem-solving instead of getting angry. Working with a therapist can help you meet your goals quicker than trying to manage your anger on your own.
8. Why is anger considered a secondary emotion?
Secondary emotions are those that are fueled by other emotions. Anger is often a reaction to fear or emotional pain. It’s easier to respond with anger than to deal with the primary emotion. When you feel angry, you feel more in control. Fear, grief, and loss make us feel more vulnerable. Anger management can help you deal with the primary emotion so you can better deal with your anger.
9.Counselling in Ottawa Can Help with Anger Management
Family Therapy has therapists who can help you manage your anger and resolve your challenges. If you are having problems at work or in your home because of anger, it’s time to find solutions. Make an appointment for counselling in Ottawa to deal with your anger response.
Originally Posted on Family Therapy
