Helping to Manage Anger

If you or someone you love suffers from an anger management problem, there are effective treatment solutions that can help to manage the issue. First, it’s important to understand the nature of anger management problems in order for treatment to be successful.

Understanding Anger

Everyone experiences anger, because anger is a normal emotion.  When you experience a sense of anger, you may feel your teeth clench, your hands ball up or increased heart rate, but anger is not the problem.  What you do with the emotion of anger is what becomes a problem.

How to Diagnose An Anger Disorder

PsychGuides.com explains that “For some, however, anger gets out of control and begins to seriously affect quality of life. People in this position find themselves steadily alienating friends and colleagues. Even members of their own family might start avoiding them simply to avoid the routine bouts of extremely angry emotional outbursts. Sometimes, the loved ones of somebody with an anger disorder will even come to fear for their safety in the presence of the affected individual. These can all be the signs that a person’s anger has risen from what was a normal, healthy reaction to negative emotional input to the level of an anger disorder.”

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V, which is used to diagnose mental health disorders, does have a few disorders that list symptoms of anger, including Intermittent Explosive Disorder, but also impulse control disorder and some of the personality disorders, to name a few. 

How to Recognize a Serious Anger Issue

A trained professional is able to best discern if there are problems managing anger.  Some of the signs that there is a serious anger management problem is to identify the consequences that are occurring and the loss of control.  Some examples are:  legal issues, problems in work performance or school performance or marital or relationship problems. 

Steps You Can Take to Help Someone With Anger Issues

If you or someone you know or love shows signs of an anger management problem, professional treatment is very helpful.  The author suggests calling 1-866-948-90191-866-948-9019. 

Talking to Someone With Anger Management Problems

Talking with someone who has anger management issues may cause feelings of anxiety or fear.  But talking with them may be necessary.  There may be a need to ask your friend or love one to seek treatment.   Without the initial step of getting the person you care about to agree that a real problem exists, however, no progress toward a solution will even be seriously attempted.

Adolescents and Teens

Adolescents and teens who might have anger issues present a unique challenge.  PsychGuide explains that, “Because teens are still physically and emotionally developing, it’s important to keep in mind that the things they think and believe, the way they act right now and the strategies they’ve so far developed to cope with the world around them are all in a state of near-constant flux. It’s possible that the blowups and temper tantrums of today will gradually – or even suddenly – give way to a more rational, calm personality as maturity is acquired.”  Anger management problems aren’t confined to childish temper tantrums, however. According to a Harvard study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, nearly 8% of teens may be suffering from intermittent explosive disorder. Recognizing the symptoms and seeking professional treatment can be effective in treating the problem. 

Learning to Cope With Anger

Learning anger management skills can be difficult.  Anger management treatment is needed to learn these new skills.  Fortunately, help does exist and can be reached at any time of the day or night by calling 1-866-948-90191-866-948-9019. If you are concerned about someone in your life who might be suffering through an inability to manage anger effectively, please call as soon as you can to speak with somebody who understands what you are going through.

How to Treat Anger Disorders

Treatment may involve a number of different types of therapies, such as cognitive therapy, relaxation therapy, skill based therapy or a combination of all therapies. Cognitive therapies are aimed at developing positive strategies for identifying triggers and appropriate responses based on thinking processes.  Relaxation-based therapies involve various relaxation techniques. Skills-training therapies are aimed at diverting the overload of negative feelings.

PsychGuide explains that, “No one is born knowing what to do for loved ones who are suffering, much less where to find anger treatment for a friend or family member who might be in need of it. Once again, if any of the above describes you or anyone in your life you care deeply for, you shouldn’t wait. Please pick up the phone and reach out for the guidance you need by dialing 1-866-948-90191-866-948-9019."

- Kim B.  M.S.

How to Find Help Treating an Anger Management Problem. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2015, from http://www.psychguides.com/guides/how-to-find-help-treating-an-anger-management-problem/