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Anger Strategies

Updated on February 12, 2016 in Anxiety & Depression
2 on February 12, 2016

Hoping the coaches might address this in one of your phone calls.  I got very angry today about some bureaucratic frustrations and went right into a set of ANT’s.  Did your four questions with some relief of this intense emotion – still feeling it tho.  Are there other strategies you’d recommend.  I’m going to try journaling about the ANT’s and just my anger tonight and of course will do my walking.  Just want like an emergency toolkit for when I get angry like this again.  Honestly, I feel like a kid who wants to throw a tantrum.

 
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0 on February 12, 2016

Great that you are using the ANT tools! They can be really helpful, especially for preventing these kinds of episodes, so I encourage you to keep that up! One of the simplest tools to use in an “emergency” episode of anger is to take 10 deep breaths (inhaling and exhaling is one)! It is almost physiologically impossible not to find some relief from this simple exercise.

  • Breathe in deeply through your belly, not just your chest, to get a full relaxation breath. (Try holding your hand on your belly, around your naval, to make sure you are not just breathing from your chest).
  • Exhale longer than you inhale, at whatever count is natural for you. For example, I try breathing in to the count of 3, then exhaling to the count of six. Emptying the air at the “bottom” of your lungs can be both calming and cleansing. 
  • Repeat this cycle 10 times.
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0 on February 12, 2016

Dhambley, I really understand your feeling that you need to release tension QUICKLY!  
I agree with what Coach Zoe mentioned and would add one thing after you follow her suggestions…
I go to the relaxation room in Games and open the segment called Whole Body Progressive.  After 10 minutes doing the tightening and relaxing of all my muscle groups I feel almost miraculously calmed.  It does take about 10 minutes in a quiet, personal space, but the calm, guiding voice talking me through the exercise is such a help!  Having someone right there leading me into a quieter frame of mind and body seems to be the key, since my own mind is in such turmoil.

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