How to Harness and Control Anger

If left uncontrolled, anger can impair our judgment and compel us to commit acts that we would regret for the rest of our lives. And because one small act of rage can have a tremendous harmful impact on the future of countless individuals, anger is one emotion we must know how to harness. Mental wellness experts suggest various strategies for dealing with anger. Different strategies work for different people, and some strategies may work only in particular situations. Here are some of the many ways to harness and control anger.

Things You'll Need

• Presence of mind
• Calmness mantra

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Instructions

• 1

  Expel the anger toxins from your system. Rage is a kind of venom that flows in our systems. It keeps our blood curdling, our temperature high and our breath heavy. Release the "toxin" the same way you would get rid of a fever. Sweat it out. Cry it out. Blurt it out. In the safe confines or your home or in the company of supportive friends, let go of your anger. Talk, weep, workout. Your system will be cleaner and calmer afterwards.

• 2

  Re-direct your adrenalin. Anger is a surge of adrenalin, the fuel of strength and action. Channel your anger, harness your strength and direct your actions towards productive activities. Rearrange the furniture, clean the basement or landscape the backyard. Consider expressing your rage in an avant-garde painting or sculpture.

• 3

  Solve the problem. What makes you angry? Is your job making you totally exasperated? Are you overwhelmed by your schedule? Is a friend giving you headaches? Find a better job, take a vacation or have a tête-à-tête with your friend. Resolve whatever is causing you to tear your hair out. Remember that the ideal solution is always best for everyone concerned.

• 4

  Count to 100. The ancient advice still works. Oftentimes we can subdue a flash of anger by breathing deeply, counting to a hundred and moving on. By consciously and deliberately commanding our psyche to relax, we can prevent saying words we don't mean or doing things we will never live down. Distract yourself from a flare-up by pausing, reciting a relaxation mantra ("calm down") or counting your fingers, until the fury subsides.

• 5

  Think positive; think fair; put yourself in other people's shoes. Most of the time we are angry because we feel slighted, rejected or abused. We are infuriated by anyone trying to infringe on our rights and privileges. However, there are times when we just imagine these things, and the cause of our anger is all in our minds. By being rational and changing the way we think, we can logically alleviate our irritation.