How to Manage Anger & Grief

Almost everyone experiences grief at some point in their lifetime. Whether it's through the death of a loved one or a broken relationship such as a divorce, grief is a natural and normal part of life. Grief as well as anger, which is an important part of the cycle of grief, can both be managed with time and patience. Although maneuvering through the grieving process is unique for each person, there are some tried and tested ways one can use while learning to cope.

Instructions

• 1

  Surround yourself with supportive family and friends who can help you communicate your feelings during the grieving process. Many choose to isolate themselves during a grieving period but it is healthier to keep loved ones close. Let them help you through this time and acknowledge to them that you need them.

• 2

  Admit that you are angry at both yourself and at others.This will keep you from turning to denial for comfort.

• 3

  Explore the feelings of anger and other emotions that indicate grief. Ask yourself questions about why you are angry. Find out exactly why you are so angry and what the source of your anger is. Maybe you are angry that your husband died and left you all alone. Acknowledge the reasons for your anger and understand that all of these reasons are valid.

• 4

  Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep and make sure you are eating well-balanced nutritious meals. Try to exercise and stay away from alcohol or drugs which can worsen depression and anger.

• 5

  Express your anger and emotions with a counselor, support group or friend. It is okay to appear angry during this stage, but if you feel that rage can get out of control, try taking some deep breaths or go for a long walk to calm down. Let your confidant know how angry you are and why you are angry. You can also express these emotions through creativity by writing, painting or putting together a scrapbook of wonderful memories.

• 6

  Drop any anger and bitterness after you have fully expressed how you feel. By allowing yourself to let go of anger, you are also freeing yourself to move on with your life