David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
ANGER MANAGEMENT 101
bpHope
October 2008 Issue
Here are some suggestions from both doctors and patients to help you get a handle on your anger:
bpHope
October 2008 Issue
Here are some suggestions from both doctors and patients to help you get a handle on your anger:
- Ask yourself these questions when you feel yourself on the verge of anger: Is this really what I want to do? Do I want to have this conversation or explosion now? Maybe I should wait until I feel better. Answering ?no? could buy you a few precious seconds to consider your next move,? says Roy Perlis, MD, MSc, medical director of the Bipolar Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
- The same goes for email. Don?t let loose too soon. Print is forever.
- If you?re prone to anger outbursts you know it by now. ?For some people, this feels like a panic attack, a rush of adrenalin, heart pounding, skin flushed,? says Perlis. Have a plan in place about how you intend to respond ?and keep to it.
- Remove yourself immediately from the situation. That?s appropriate especially if you?re a parent with a child or even a pet owner. At work, excuse yourself and go to the restroom.
- Explore relaxation techniques for managing anxiety, like visualization, listening to music, or maybe doing a task that distracts you.
- Exercise daily.
- Communicate with your doctor, advises Sharon Lyons. And be creative, like Jeff McDonald, who shouts the odd-sounding name of Providence Bruins hockey goalie, Finnish player, ?Tuukka Rask!? Why? ?It makes me laugh,? he says.