Anger Management

Has Anger Contributed To Cycles Of Negativity And Discord In Your Life?

Is explosive conflict affecting your most important relationships?

Do you feel as though there is no way to communicate your needs without getting overly heated?

Have persistent angry episodes caused problems at home, at work or school, and in your relationships? 

Perhaps you find that you react to any and all sensitive situations with anger, as opposed to other emotions like sadness or feelings of overwhelm. Or maybe you believe if you did let yourself feel sad, you would be perceived as weak or inferior by others. In a society that undervalues emotional intelligence and relies on constructs of masculinity to create a hierarchy of power, it is easy to convince yourself that anger is a sign of manliness and capability. 

However, if you consistently have trouble controlling your anger, you may find that other symptoms and problems can arise. Physical ramifications, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and risk of stroke can result in those who lack proper anger management skills. Depression and anxiety, leading to sleeplessness and panic disorders, can also become costly factors if you consistently lose your temper. 

Moreover, anger issues can create long-term social and relational problems, ranging from consequences in the workplace to domestic disputes with your partner or family members. It is difficult for others to be around an intimidating force, and if you are having difficulty controlling your anger, cycles of isolation and despair can worsen. 

Anger is an extremely common and often valid emotion. But if a lack of anger management is causing setbacks in your life, it might be time to consider therapy to help you learn how to better control and deal with your anger. 

Anger Is A Natural Reaction To Sensitive Situations

Each and every one of us has known anger, and we have all witnessed anger in others. At one point or another, every person will have an experience of being treated unjustly in some way, shape, or form, and it is natural to react to those situations with resentment or exasperation. 

We also feed off of the collective anger in our community, especially in politically polarized climates. These days, we need not look further than our television screens or news feeds to witness someone who is angry, oftentimes expressing an opinion that we identify with. And while anger can certainly be a catalyst for change, it can become dangerous if it is the only emotion with which we regard others. 

Anger can be blinding.

When we feel angry, it is hard to see the facts of the situation and think rationally. We close ourselves off to conversation or healthy debate and stop acknowledging the feelings of the other person with whom we are sparring. A tit-for-tat mentality precludes any sense of empathy or logic, and it becomes increasingly difficult to see both sides. If these situations escalate, we can end up saying things we will regret later or even resort to violence. And as these conflicts wear on, it becomes increasingly difficult for us to acknowledge the emotions of others or accept accountability for the ways that we have caused harm. 

The truth is that persistent feelings of anger cause more damage to ourselves than to anyone else. It is toxic to constantly live in such a reactive state, and it’s no wonder that cycles of depression and anxiety might follow us if we don’t develop the right coping skills for our anger. Over time, feeling stuck inside of that negative mindset can create a sense of being unable to move forward or make progress, and our energy is sapped from feeling constantly on edge. 

There is hope, however, for developing strategies for controlling your anger and escaping the rut that comes with it. Anger management with a certified therapist or counselor offers you the opportunity to develop the coping skills needed to reduce volatile feelings of outrage and frustration before they cause problems in your life. 

Anger Management Therapy Offers An Unprejudiced Environment To Explore And Dismantle Your Anger

Therapy gives you a safe and unbiased space to process your anger. As a seasoned counselor, I have been trained to remain objective, empathetic, and supportive, so even if you arrive at your session feeling angry or on edge, you will have permission to air your grievances without the risk of instigating conflict or making me feel defensive. 

Since we won’t be engaging in the kinds of toxic and negative cycles that may have posed problems in your life, you may find that you’re more willing to hear what I have to say in response to your anger, what I have observed in your body language and emotional cues, and which solutions might be most effective for your treatment. I will work with you to break down the factors at the center of your anger so that together, we can better understand what you are reacting to while getting to the root of your pain.

Therapy is all about your experience. At your pace, we will uncover trauma or other uncomfortable parts of your past that led you to put up emotional defenses in times of stress. As your guide during every step of the way, I will treat you with integrity while challenging your perspective so that you can maintain clarity on your emotions and reduce your reactivity to the areas in your life that trigger you most. 

From a psychoeducational standpoint, I will help you better understand what is happening in your brain when you are experiencing high levels of reactivity, and how you have been conditioned to respond to certain things in certain ways. From there, using cognitive behavioral techniques and emotionally focused, person centered therapy, we will develop a more solid understanding of your thought processes so that you can react calmly, even in tense situations. 

I have found that once my clients have a grasp on what is happening to their thoughts and behaviors during instances of explosive anger, they are better equipped to dismantle their reactions before they become harmful to themselves and others.

During our counseling sessions, you will be empowered to establish anger management techniques and disengagement strategies that you can pull from every time you feel that your temper starts to build. With this toolbox of coping skills, you may find that your anger is, in fact, within your control. I am confident that once you can manage your anger, you will also feel healed in other parts of your life as you begin to recognize you are no longer captive to your temper. 

Therapy can help you feel more functional in your everyday life and repair the relationships that have been affected by your anger, increasing the potential for the peaceful, happy, and fulfilling life that you deserve. 

Perhaps you are considering seeking treatment to develop anger management skills, but you aren’t sure if therapy is right for you… 

I am concerned about how I will be perceived if I seek therapy. 

If you are considering counseling for anger management, your anger has likely had a consequence in your life, whether that takes the form of punishment at school or work or persistent conflict in your relationships. Whatever the case may be, it’s a good sign that you are looking to heal from the toxic cycles that anger has created in your life. As such, others will likely have a positive reaction to your desire to make a meaningful, healthy change in your behaviors. Those who don’t may not have your best interest at heart and could be contributing to the cycles of anger and negativity that are adversely affecting you. 

Will I ever be able to control my anger?

Yes! Research shows that anger management therapy is highly effective in helping people cope with and reduce their anger.1 While your anger may feel out of control now, I believe that with an enhanced perspective on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, you will eventually begin to see that your reactions belong to you, and not the other way around. Therapy is an extremely efficient means for developing the coping skills and strategies to help you manage your anger and prevent it from causing discord in your life.     

I worry that my partner/child/family member/friend is too angry to consider therapy. 

If you are considering anger management therapy on behalf of someone else, I will work with you to develop strategies on how to approach this with your loved one. It’s important to normalize the anger being felt by your loved one and try to not make them feel alienated by it. As I have mentioned, anger is a common and justified emotion, but if it is causing issues in their daily life or your relationship with them, it’s important to find ways to gently encourage treatment so that they can better understand how to deal with their anger. 

Moreover, if excessive anger is not managed, it can have long-term, painful, and costly consequences for your loved one. Let’s strategize together on how we can help them see the benefits of seeking therapy for their anger. 

Anger Management Therapy Can Re-establish Your Sense Of Control

If an ability to maintain your temper has created negative consequences and persistent conflict in your life, it might be time to seek the guidance of a therapist or counselor to aid you in restoring the peace. For a free, 15-minute consultation to discuss how I can help you, call (469) 718-7306 or contact me via my website today.

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