How to Help a Friend Overcome Anger

Anger is a volatile emotion that can cause rifts in any relationship, whether it's romantic or simply between friends. Dealing with anger in constructive ways can be challenging for an individual on his own; help him to deal with anger in the most positive way possible. Remain neutral in order to avoid creating a bigger problem.

Instructions

• 1

  Guide your friend through deep-breathing exercises. An angry person is prone to taking shallow breaths that will stop him from becoming calm and will restrict his blood flow. Help your friend to physically calm herself.

• 2

  Talk to your friend one-on-one. If you bring a group to talk to someone about her anger, it can make her feel she is being attacked. Individual conversations are more manageable and are less likely to result in further conflict.

• 3

  Begin the conversation in a positive way. Avoid using accusatory phrases such as "you always" or "you never," since these can cause your friend to become angrier. Talk from a neutral perspective about the situation that has made him angry, and discuss the facts.

• 4

  Discuss the root of the problem with your friend. Help her to identify the cause of her anger, and talk about ways the problem can be solved or eliminated. Identifying the underlying causes of anger is a major step in overcoming it, according to Tom Stevens, Ph.D., author of "You Can Choose to Be Happy." Encourage your friend to take a step back from his anger. Help him look for solutions to his problem in constructive ways, such as seeking anger-management counseling or writing in a journal.

• 5

  Help your friend find positive influences to replace the situation that has caused her anger. If anger is the result of negativity in friendships or other relationships, encourage your friend to find a way to make those relationships work in positive ways, or to find new relationships that will foster constructive change.