Experiencing anger is a normal human emotion. Although anger is often given a bad rap, in fact there is absolutely nothing wrong with feeling angry. It is perfectly natural. Anger only becomes dangerous when the individual’s reaction to it is destructive. Anger can be a great vehicle to positive change. Think about how many leaders in this world have taken on a cause that changed the world due to being angered by a situation. Acting on anger that has no ill intent and seeks to better conditions through positive change is referred to as assertive anger. I’ve seen anger be the catalyst to flush out excessive stress or be the remedy to other “downer” emotions, such as depression, fear, and frustration. Sometimes, anger could actually be the “pick-me-up” you need! Like that powerful espresso that wakes you up in the morning, anger can stir things up to the point where you take action.
However let’s not get it twisted…. When anger is not managed or one hasn’t explored positive outlets to exert anger it can indeed have detrimental effects. Ranging from physical, mental, spiritual and emotional impacts anger can literally pack a punch.
A common problem I see is that people actually live in a constant angered state unknowingly. They get angry and stay angry. Imagine being in a state of constant tension, being on the edge and ready to explode at the drop of a dime. This is cortisol overload. When our bodies continue to manufacture cortisol the chemical responsible for fight or flight on an ongoing basis it renders us a risk to ourselves and others. This constant state of anger is certainly not beneficial!
Welcome to my world of anger management. My role is to empower people to manage their anger and impulsive behaviour safely and effectively. Anger management is extremely important for everyone because if practiced it can save time, relationships, money and personal integrity.
Anger management professionals have several ways to help people deal with their anger issues and it is often a delicate, step-by-step process. Anger management should be very individualized. To take control of one’s anger, people have to be ready to go through a personal transformation, this is an essential step. I liken the relationship between the anger management participant and myself as tour guide and a tourist. The fact is that I take you on a journey where you can witness a whole new world, however the choice of what you want to do with accessing the possibilities is entirely up to you. Ask yourself; do I honestly have effective methods to express anger in a positive, healthy and constructive way? If you have to try to convince yourself that probably means you need to invest some quality time with yourself. Be the leader in your life, take a proactive approach and remember that ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.