Four Really Easy Anger Management Tips

OK, you get angry every now and then. Or you even get angry almost all the time. After all, it's not your fault you got angry - it's those other people who've done stuff that makes you angry. Maybe they cut you up on the freeway. Maybe they didn't give you that raise or promotion at work. Whatever the reason, you've got yourself angry.

But what can you do about it?

1. Try counting to ten

OK, it's a bit corny. The kind of thing your mother would ask you to do. But actually quite a lot of the time it works. Count fairly slowly - don't race from 1 to 10 in a millisecond - and slow your breathing down at the same time. And take a tip from the bad guys in the movies - slow down even further when you get close to the number ten. Chances are you won't be quite as angry as when you started.

2. Take a deep breath

Again, it sounds a well-worn step. And again it works a lot of the time. Take the time to breathe in deeply and slowly. Hold your breath for a second or so. Then slowly release your breath - which makes a change from expelling all the air from your lungs as fast as you can, likely at the top of your voice. A few deep breaths will almost certainly reduce your anger even if they don't manage to get rid of it altogether.

3. Talk about your feelings

Do this one after you've vented your anger. Find a trusted friend or work colleague or even someone on MSN Messenger or Skype. Think out loud. Use this process to discover what actually triggered your anger. Then work on a plan to react differently next time. Anger often isn't rational and it's often scared of being "found out" for the trouble maker it really is. By talking through your feelings you can often decide to react differently the next time that trigger happens. After all, unless the other person is deliberately trying to bait you, chances are that it's not 100% their fault that you're angry. It may be as little as 98% their fault!

4. Take time to relax

Often our anger comes out when we're stressed. Which with our hectic modern lives is more often than we'd care to admit? Take the time to spend quality time with yourself - either alone or with a trusted friend or partner. Use that time to unwind and de-stress. You may even feel your blood coming off the boil when you start this approach. And you'll likely begin to have less anger tantrums as a result.