How to Calm Down Your Anger

Anger is a normal human emotion. When anger gets out of hand or is extreme, it can cause health problems and problems with relationships. Here are some ways I have learned to calm down my anger and hopefully it can help others as well.

When you are arguing with someone, the first thing you want to do is scream and yell and get your point across. This only makes you angrier and more hostile and you may say things that you don't even mean. It is at this point, you need to stop, count to ten, take a deep breath and relax. When you are yelling and screaming at someone and they are doing the same back, you are going to get nothing accomplished. No one is listening to each other. Calming yourself down will help you to get back on track, refocus and maybe even calm the other person down so that you can both talk it out in a more peaceful manner.

Anger can be bottled up for many months or years and then eventually the person who bottles this anger up may one day explode into an extreme fit of rage when someone sets them off. Channeling your anger in other ways is a healthier alternative. Listen to music that puts you in a good mood. Dance or exercise to help get your heart rate going and put you in a better mood. Think about the consequences of your anger. Does being angry feel good? Does being hostile towards others make you feel better? Wouldn't you rather feel at peace with those around you?

When you are angry at one person, sometimes you can take it out on other people around you. That is not fair to the people around you. When you have a problem with someone, see if you can talk it out. Go for a walk. Go for a drive in your car and listen to the radio. Anger can destroy relationships and your own well being. It can make you a person that people may not want to be around.

Anger can cause health problems as well. It can raise your blood pressure. Do you feel physical symptoms when you are angry? Does your face and body get red? Do you get headaches? Anger can cause physical symptoms that make you feel unwell. Why would you want to feel unwell when you can feel better?

You need to take control of your anger. I know this may be easier said than done when in the heat of the moment, but if you take a few minutes to think about the outcome of your anger and how it may affect others, you will realize that it is not worth it. Take a few minutes, calm down and talk it out peacefully. You will get your point across much better when your words are heard and listened to.

Humor may help you when you are angry. If you are in a fight with someone close to you, say something funny out loud. Make them laugh instead of making them more angrier. Think of a funny word or funny joke that the both of you share. Bringing humor and light to an angry situation may help reduce the severity of the fight and calm you both down.

If you are holding in anger from something someone did to you in the past, it is the time to let go. Forgive and forget. Almost everyone in this world has had someone do something to them that made them angry at some point. Some people hold grudges for a long time. This can ruin friendships, relationships and even your own health. Learn to realize that everyone makes mistakes. You may have hurt people in your past as well. No one is perfect. Move on and create a happier life for yourself by letting go. Release those angry emotions. Do yoga or meditation. Sing out loud. Laugh a lot to reduce stress. Do not let someone else win by getting angry. That is what they want. They want you to get mad. You give them power by giving them what they want. Try being quiet or listening to the other person if they are yelling at you. They may end up apologizing to you and even start to see your point of view. Isn't that what you want? Practice peace and you will get more peace in your life.