Generally speaking, anger is a normal human emotion everybody experiences at some point. Unfortunately, it is all too common for anger to culminate and become destructive, ultimately leading to problems at home and work. When you feel that your emotions have made you unpredictable and unable to cope with stressors of daily life, it may be time to seek additional help.
The Costs of Anger
In some instances, anger is a healthy response. In other cases, it can cause additional pain and frustration -- often in those closest to you. You may notice that you lose respect from loved ones, or perhaps that your spouse has begun to fear your reaction to normal stimuli. Experiencing undue amounts of stress can actually lead to health complications, making you much more susceptible to conditions like heart disease and insomnia.
When Anger Becomes a Problem
If you notice that anger has influenced your relationships or your performance at work, you may want to think about entering treatment for anger. You might discover that you no longer find enjoyment in your daily life. The way you react to colleagues or criticism from your boss may have resulted in termination of your job.
If anger and frustration have become constant fixtures in your life, you should seek assistance. If you have found yourself avoiding things you once enjoyed because you fear that you will lose your temper, you should also consider options available for treatment. Of course, any trouble you have had with the law, especially that involving physical violence, is also an indicator that you can benefit from treatment.
What Does Treatment for Anger Include?
When you enter treatment for anger issues, you will be provided with a variety of tools you will be able to use when stress simply becomes too much to handle.
Therapists also use techniques like cognitive restructuring, which encourages you to find new ways of coping with anger beyond lashing out. Replacing irrational thoughts with rational cues will help you calm down when something terrible does occur. Therapists can help bring logic to the table when emotions want to prevail. As a result, anger becomes less destructive.
Problem solving skills are also important for anger resolution. Frustration and anger are often brought about by problems that are easily solvable, if only you brought a positive attitude to the table. Therapy can help teach you how to track your progress in solving problems and achieving goals, sometimes through better communication and sometimes by helping you change your environment.
Eliminating anger completely is not necessarily an option, but you can still face it in a healthy way. Being able to control the way you react to anger is the real power.