Controlling Anger – Before it Controls You
What is Anger?	Anger is an Emotion that varies from mild to irritation to intense rage. When you get angry your heart rate goes up, your blood pressure goes up, and your energy hormones increase.
Expressing Anger	Anger is a natural response to threats; it allows us to defend ourselves when we are attacked and allows us to fight. We cannot physically lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys us; laws, society, and common sense place limits on how far our anger can take us.
Three main ways to deal with anger:	Expressing: expressing anger in an assertive-not aggressive manner is the healthiest way. Suppressing: This happens when you hold in your anger, stop thinking about it, and focus on something positive. The aim is to change it into something more constructive. Calming: Calm down your inside. Not only controlling your outward behavior, but also your internal responses.
Strategies to Control Your Anger	Relaxation Tools, such as deep breathing and relaxing imagery, can help you calm down angry feelings. Along with these helpful steps: · Breathe Deeply, from your diaphragm · Picture your breath coming from your stomach · Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as “relax” and “take it easy” Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply · Visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination · Non-strenuous, slow yoga like exercise can relax your muscles and make you feel much calmer
Remember: Your anger is for you to control. You have the freedom to create ways to manage it. You have the power over it. No one can make you angry if you don’t let them.