How to Help People With Rage & Anger Problems

Facing someone who has sudden outbursts of rage; shouts excessively; threatens physical violence; or regularly makes cruel and denigrating comments in fits of anger can be frightening and demoralizing. People with rage and anger problems need help. While it may seem intimidating to intervene, lending a helping hand can go a long way in getting the person to address his issues. Be patient and gentle; help the person to look at various ways to get assistance and ultimately improve his well being.

Instructions

• 1

  Listen to your friend when he expresses anger. Is the anger always focused around one issue, or does your friend chronically display anger about many different issues? Calmly address your friend's concerns and encourage him to speak through his problems instead of exploding in anger.

• 2

  Educate your friend about more effective ways to express anger. For example, suggest that he could do some role playing where you pretend to be angry and your friend calmly works through various mediation techniques with you.

• 3

  Suggest that your friend check out online sources for help and browse these websites with him. The American Psychological Association, the Mayo Clinic and other online resources can educate your friend about the symptoms and treatments for anger problems.

• 4

  Provide your friend with pamphlets, brochures and other literature about anger management. Contact counselors and therapists to get materials about this subject. Offer to accompany your friend, if appropriate, to his first anger management session if he chooses to enroll in a class or to see a therapist.

• 5

  Stage an intervention if he refuses to address his problem. Gathr family members and friends to address the person's anger problem and to indicate how they have been harmed by it. It`s best to have a therapist involved to moderate the intervention.

• 6

  Plan strategies for how you will address abusive behavior from your friend. If he continues to shout after you remind him that he is expressing his anger poorly, tell him that you intend to leave, then follow through. Show your friend that there are consequences to abusive behavior.