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Dealing with Personal Anger

Keeping Your Family First

If left unchecked, anger can damage your relationships, your reputation and your health.

Anger stimulates the release of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream. These two hormones have a number of effects that mobilize the body over the short term but that can be destructive if arousal is chronic.

So what do we do to control anger before it blows?:

• Reason with yourself. Use your reasoning powers to keep from reacting automatically....and from flying into a rage. When you feel yourself getting angry, stop and ask yourself three questions before you react....

• Is the issue at hand important to me?

• Is my anger justified?

• Is there anything that anger can do to fix the situation?

If you answer "yes" to all three questions, instead of losing your temper, be assertive. Describe the specific behavior that's bothering you, and tell others what you want. Be specific make the request calmly. If necessary, take a few deep breaths before speaking.

If you answer "no" to at least one of the three questions: instead of trying to change the situation that made you angry, it may be more appropriate to change your internal response. Recognize that your anger will not change the person or situation that has irritated you.

Remind yourself that if you remain angry, it's your own health and well-being that will suffer most.

Photo Credit - USDA


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