As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have been teaching Anger Management skills for 20 years. This will be an 8 part mini-series on Anger Management that should provide my readers with some helpful insights into developing healthy and positive anger management skills. Each section will post major aspects of anger management. 

Anger Management is a Learned Skill:

The first concept that is essential to understanding Anger Management is that it is a skill that needs to be developed and practiced. It is an ability like learning a sport, how to drive a car or multiplication tables. None of these things are instinctually known, and neither is the methods to express positively and release your anger. Think of all the time and effort you have put into learning these other types of skills. It will take some time and exertion to learn Anger Management as well. You will not simply be able to read this blog and control your anger. Anger Management requires you to change your negative anger habits.  To become aware of how you unconsciously react to the emotion of anger and consciously modify your thoughts and behaviors to provide a productive and beneficial outcome in your life.

Autopilot Behavior:

Human beings are creatures of habit.  Accumulating a variety of habits that we can do automatically is a survival skill. When we get up in the morning, we normally don’t have to put much conscious effort into getting dressed, making the bed or brushing our teeth. Many of these tasks have just become part of our programmed routine. 

Accordingly, Anger Management must be practiced regularly and on a conscious level to make this skill more natural when you get angry. Time and effort will be needed just like when you were learning how to become more competent in a favorite sport or learning a new ability. People often don’t realize that to change old habits; a lot of effort must be put into the task.  So if you wish to acquire the skill of positively handling your anger; be willing to work at it.  

Take Relearning your Anger Responses Seriously:

So if Anger has become a negative force in your life…..work on changing your outlook and reactions to this vital emotion. But take this task seriously. If you find it hard to do it alone, a professional counselor can be a wonderful support.    

If book lovers would like to read books on this subject, check out “Beyond Anger” by Thomas J. Harbin or “Anger Management for Everyone” by Raymond Chip Tafrate and Howard Kassinove.

My whole 8 part series on Anger Management along with other helpful articles can be found at www.suportivetalk.com   To help calm down, listen to the CD, “Relax, Unwind & Sleep.”