How to Overcome Frustrations

When you find yourself in a situation in which your desires, needs or wishes are not fulfilled, you may experience what is commonly known as frustration. It is something that happens to us all, as life rarely goes as planned. Being able to effectively cope with the emotions that so frequently accompany frustration is a critical life skill. When a person allows their frustration to take over, they are not able to think clearly and cannot make rational decisions. This can lead to making detrimental choices from which they may never fully recover. You can learn to overcome feelings of frustration before they get out of control.

Instructions

• 1

  Learn to recognize and admit to feeling frustrated. Express what you're feeling by talking it out with a friend or family member. If no one is available, try writing in a journal. This sort of exercise can help you identify the source of your frustration. It can also be useful for identifying ongoing patterns, which can be a great help when working to change things for the better.

• 2

  Take a step back, figuratively or literally, from the source of your frustration. Take a break and move on to something else for a while. Once you have calmed down, you can return to the original source and deal with it more rationally. Failure to do this frequently leads to hostile and destructive actions that can have long-lasting and unhappy consequences.

• 3

  Find a place or activity that can help you to clear your mind. Many people find taking a long walk, doing a bit of yoga, watching the fish in an aquarium or even going for a drive can help them focus and gain perspective on a situation.

• 4

  Set reasonable and realistic goals, not just for yourself, but for others as well. This will help you to avoid placing excessive amounts of pressure on yourself and keep you from being disappointed when others fall short of your overly ambitious objectives.

• 5

  Admit you need help if you realize you have taken on a project or task that is simply beyond your capabilities. It can be very difficult for some people to ask for assistance when they need it, but if you are spending all your time aggravated and unable to function, you accomplish nothing.

• 6

  Get moving. Release your tension and work out your frustration punching a pillow or kicking a ball. Exercise releases endorphins, the brain's "feel good" chemical. As a result, your body experiences a decrease in muscle tension and an overall elevation of mood. So, next time you're really fed up, get moving. Ride a bike, take a swim, go for a run, or even hit the local salsa club. Your body will thank you, and your world will look a little more manageable when you get back to it.

• 7

  Call a professional if you simply cannot seem to get your frustration and anger under control. There are trained professionals who specialize in this field. They can offer you practical advice and emotional support.