Anger Management

Do you know that learning to manage anger is good for your health? People who manage their anger get sick less often, and feel better emotionally. Even though anger is a natural emotion sometimes, it can lead to behavior that is uncomfortable or out of control. It may even feel like the anger is controlling you.

Why do I have trouble controlling my anger?

There are many reasons why people have trouble managing their anger and angry behaviors. The reasons are different for everybody and may be a combination of different factors. Perhaps you have been taught that it is “not nice” or “inappropriate” to express anger. Maybe you’ve witnessed extreme anger and/or violence at home, in your neighborhood or at school, distorting how you view or experience anger. It could also be hard for you to control your anger because you haven’t yet learned how to deal with the emotions you feel inside. Whatever the reason, the next step is to work on ways of understanding what triggers your anger and how to manage your behavior even when the angry feeling is justified.

Why should I control my anger?

Even at a young age, having difficulty understanding and managing anger makes you more likely to have physical problems that can occur now or in the future. This happens because your mind and your body are connected. Not dealing with angry feelings can actually put stress on your body which can lead to medical problems such as:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Chronic lower back pain
• Stomach problems

Having problems managing your anger can also increase your risk for developing mental health concerns such as:

• Depression
• Eating problems
• Substance abuse
• Drug, alcohol or other addictions
• Relationship problems

Teenagers who have trouble managing their anger often have fewer friends, more behavioral problems, and receive lower grades in school. This is often because teens that have difficulty with anger are often unhappy and feel isolated, even if they get a lot of attention for angry behaviors.

How can I tell if I’m getting too angry?

Your body has several ways of letting you know when you are getting too angry. Some common feelings may include:

• Your heart feels like it’s racing—it beats very fast and may even feel like it’s pounding in your chest, or pounding in your head
• You breathe faster—it may feel like you can’t catch your breath
• Your muscles tighten—your body feels tense and on edge
• Your body temperature increases—you feel hot and may sweat a lot
• You may develop a headache – you may feel like your head is pounding or pulsating

Are there some situations that make you feel particularly angry?

Think about the last few times you became really angry. Do you know exactly what it was that made you angry? Was it justified or did you feel you had a right to be angry? How did you feel? By becoming more aware of what upsets you, and how you feel when you are angry, you can take control of it before it takes control of you. Keep in mind that your thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all connected. Your thoughts affect your feelings, which then affect your behaviors. Your behavior can also affect your thoughts, which can affect how you feel. Since they are all related, making one change—to thoughts, feeling or behaviors—will make a big difference.

What are some ways I can learn to control my temper?

The best way to control your temper depends on you. There is no quick fix. Every person needs to take time to think about what works for them.

Here are some helpful ideas:

• Take a second before reacting. The simple trick of “counting to 10” before reacting can be very helpful in keeping your cool.
• Improve your problem-solving skills. When faced with a difficult situation or conflict, learn as much as you can about it and think about what happened and identify and name all the feelings you’re experiencing. Are you angry? Disappointed? Embarrassed? Scared? This will prevent you from making quick judgments that may be wrong. Remember, there are many ways to look at the same situation.
• Take responsibility for your actions. You actually have the power to decide how you will behave in certain situations ahead of time if you find a way to “keep a cool head.” For example, if losing your soccer game last week caused you to get angry, think about how you can better prepare yourself to deal with the stress if you don’t come out with a win this week.
• Think about the consequences of your behavior. Realize that how you behave affects not only you but also those you love and others around you. You can ask someone about how they were affected and remember this for the future. Also, sometimes there are consequences like suspension or being grounded that can be a reminder of what happens when your anger escalates.
• Pay attention to what upsets you. When you’re able to figure out what triggers angry feelings, you can make decisions about how to manage these triggers. Sometimes they’re avoidable and other times not; it’s up to you to be prepared with strategies that will help you stay in better control.
• Pay attention to how your body feels when you are angry. Sometimes people are first aware of experiencing anger through their bodies rather than their thoughts or feelings. When you notice your body beginning to react, it’s time to slow down and identify the feeling before reacting.
• Create a “toolbox” of relaxation techniques that work for you. Find tools and skills that help you calm down when you find yourself getting angry. Some people step away from a situation, others listen to music or exercise. Figure out what works for you and use it.

You may feel anxious when you first try to take control of your temper. This is normal. Take time beforehand to plan ways to handle these feelings. The earlier you notice yourself becoming angry the more chance you have to stop your anger from getting out of control.

What are more examples of how to relax when I’m feeling so angry?

Every one of us can find effective ways to calm down. Relaxation techniques work by helping calm us. When we are calm, our bodies relax, and physical problems brought on by anger such as a headache, usually disappear. Try the following techniques to help you relax, and check out our guide about stress and how to lower it for more suggestions.

• Take slow deep breaths. Breathe in and slowly breathe out—this works especially well when you feel like your breathing is speeding up.
• Repeat a calming word or sentence to yourself, such as “I am in control of my feelings”.
• Tighten your muscles then relax them.Notice the difference.
• Close your eyes and think about a person, place, or thingthat makes you feel calm.

What if my anger feels out of control?

Take quick action! If angry feelings begin to take control over you it’s important to do something to keep yourself and others around you safe.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Leave the scene—Take yourself away from the person and/or place where you became angry. A change of scenery can help you “cool off” your angry feelings.
• Walk away instead of driving away—Walking is a great way to get your anger out. Avoid driving to prevent yourself from putting yourself and others in danger.
• Choose safe ways to deal with anger—Take deep breaths, repeat a calming word, relax your muscles, imagine a calm place to decrease your anger. Do not drink, use violence or pick up a weapon.
• If you feel you’re a danger to yourself or others, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. If you’re having thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself or hurt other people, it’s important to get help immediately!

What do I do with all the anger inside?

Find a safe way to express it. There are many safe ways to express your anger.

Here are a few ideas:

• Talk to someone you trust—Call or meet with someone you trust. This can be a friend, a relative, a teacher or anyone whom you know to be a thoughtful and good listener. You also can see a counselor to help you work on understanding your feelings and develop strategies to deal with them.
• Exercise—Get that anger out by taking a long walk or run (in a safe part of town), work out at the gym or play a sport. Exercise stimulates the release of a chemical in the brain called “endorphins” that make us feel more relaxed and calmer. You can also try a relaxing or focused exercise to calm yourself, such as yoga or Tai Chi.
• Write in a journal—Let your feelings out by writing about them in a journal or create poetry or song lyrics. You can also write a letter to someone you’re really mad at. You can read it again later, edit it, and send it, if you’re still upset.
• Listen to or play music—Music has a way of calming the nerves and the soul, whether it’s listening on your phone, singing along with the car radio (even if you sing off key), or playing an instrument.
• Draw, paint, or do other creative art projects—for some people, being creative is an outlet for anger and helps them manage their feelings.
• Rest—Anger often takes our energy away and makes us feel exhausted. Its fine to take a break, nap, or go to bed early. Sleep helps us focus so we can deal with our feelings better

Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.