How do you deal with anger?

[Jonathanm]

Hey folks. Not sure if this belongs here. It pertains to mental health, but not necessarily freedom.

Do any of you guys have anger issues, and if so, how do you manage it?

I have occasional days where anger completely ruins me. I do not direct anger at other people, but at myself in self destructive behaviors. Sometimes it's as if I'm feeling too much of the negatives in life. Our economy, lack of liberty, all of these things wear on me, and eventually I just blow up at myself or inanimate objects.

Anger to some extent is healthy, I think, but my particular breed of anger is well beyond any therapeutic level. I'm not worried that I'm a danger to myself, nor am I a danger to anyone else, but it still drives me absolutely crazy to feel so mad. As such, I've decided to ask you all for your opinions. What can one like me do to decrease feelings of absolute rage?

A few of the things I've thought about...

1.) Archery. I've always wanted to learn for other reasons, but I've heard that many archers enjoy a 'trance' of sorts when shooting. This sort of trance, I feel, might be beneficial. Can any archers here comment?

2.) Meditation. I've tried it before, but in the past I've found it quite difficult to calm my thoughts without some sort of physical distraction.

3.) Hiking. This only really applies in the late spring/summer time/early fall, but I do find nature to be calming.

Aside from habit-based aggression reduction, are there are any natural ingested remedies that might help? I've heard chamomile can be soothing, but I've never heard of it being applied towards anger issues; mostly I've just seen people use it to aid sleep.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mt4rp]

The Cherokee Story of the Two Wolves:

An old Cherokee told his grandson: “My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth.”

The boy thought about it, and asked: “Grandfather, which wolf wins?”

The old man quietly replied: “The one you feed.”

 

[phill4paul]

I listen to this on 11....



or go plinking.

 

[BuddyRey]

When I'm really downhearted and disgusted with humanity (which is damn near every day lately), I try to funnel all that anger into my writing. Even if it's something you write only for yourself and no one else to see, it's quite cathartic to put it all down on paper. Write down what it is that fills you with rage, and why. The great thing about this is that, while anger always starts off unfocused, indiscriminate, and all-consuming, focusing your thoughts in this way can help you better define the scope of your anger. It puts you in control of your emotions, instead of the other way around, so that you can effectively (and non-violently) affix your contempt on those deserving of it, and spare those who are undeserving of it. And, perhaps even better, the more you think about the object of your anger, the more likely you'll come to a solution, or at least a better understanding what you can do to minimize your antagonists' deleterious effect on your life.

 

[WilliamC]

Well Tommy Chong has an answer, but it might not be for everybody

 

[donnay]

Hey folks. Not sure if this belongs here. It pertains to mental health, but not necessarily freedom.

Do any of you guys have anger issues, and if so, how do you manage it?

I have occasional days where anger completely ruins me. I do not direct anger at other people, but at myself in self destructive behaviors. Sometimes it's as if I'm feeling too much of the negatives in life. Our economy, lack of liberty, all of these things wear on me, and eventually I just blow up at myself or inanimate objects.

Anger to some extent is healthy, I think, but my particular breed of anger is well beyond any therapeutic level. I'm not worried that I'm a danger to myself, nor am I a danger to anyone else, but it still drives me absolutely crazy to feel so mad. As such, I've decided to ask you all for your opinions. What can one like me do to decrease feelings of absolute rage?

A few of the things I've thought about...

1.) Archery. I've always wanted to learn for other reasons, but I've heard that many archers enjoy a 'trance' of sorts when shooting. This sort of trance, I feel, might be beneficial. Can any archers here comment?

2.) Meditation. I've tried it before, but in the past I've found it quite difficult to calm my thoughts without some sort of physical distraction.

3.) Hiking. This only really applies in the late spring/summer time/early fall, but I do find nature to be calming.

Aside from habit-based aggression reduction, are there are any natural ingested remedies that might help? I've heard chamomile can be soothing, but I've never heard of it being applied towards anger issues; mostly I've just seen people use it to aid sleep.

Thanks in advance.

Here are some natural supplements that can help keep you calm but not feel like a zombie like prescription drugs do!

Valerian Root
Theanine
Kava-Kava

 

[WilliamC]

Another thought that comes to mind is getting involved in some sort of martial arts.

There you have a controlled environment for striking out at other people, and if you get good (i.e. develop self-control) you can fight without really running the risk of getting hurt or hurting someone else.

I'm not saying you need to fight but maybe being able to take out your anger through fighting another (willing) opponent will give you a controlled outlet for it in ways that solitary activities never will.

All emotions are valid and part of the human condition, but no emotions need to be able to over-ride your reason and or cause you to lose control of your behavior. It's just that in these modern times we are all left with instincts that evolved during times when it was very much pro-survival to have anger, or hatred, or rage, since these things are good and help keep you alive when you are fighting for your life.

 

[pacelli]

It is important to realize that anger, like anxiety, carries with it a physiological response within your body involving a release of adrenalin and other stress hormones. This is the reason the physical impulse to hit, destroy, or smash things is so difficult to manage. This is an instinct referred to "fight or flight". The physiological response for fighting vs taking flight is the same within the body. The difference between problematic/unjustified anger and anxiety lies in the thoughts that lead up to that physical experience. Those thoughts trigger the response.

Many people going through anger management learn how to take an inventory of what exactly is going on just before that rush of anger hits. Often trying to engage in meditation during an anger response is difficult or impossible at first. Asking, "what thought MAKES me angry?" is important to determine the stimulus that lead to the response.

Some folks with anger problems find that sticking their head under cold running water in the middle of the physiological FIGHT response can actually interrupt the experience and shorten it. Deep breathing is important as well because in order to sustain the anger response, the human body must engage in short, shallow breathing (upper chest breathing). The way to interrupt the imminent onset of an anger episode is not to meditate, but rather to count to 4 while inhaling through the nose, hold breath for 4 seconds, then let breath out in 4 seconds. Deep breathing is working if the stomach rises and falls with each inhale and exhale.

Peaceful or calming environments are important too. Nature and hiking sound like great "calm maintenance" activities if they are scheduled and can be relied upon, in either walking distance or short driving distance. Burning off physical energy through exercise can also lead to a reduction in the anger response over time.

Finally lets get into the one sense that involves NO cognitive filtering: Smell. A direct whiff of airborne vapors from a calming essential oil (such as lavender, chamomile, etc) will quickly impact the brain and the thinking that is going on at the time. It will only take a few seconds. The brain cannot pre-filter smells to reinterpret them.

 

[KMX]

Cannabis Sativa

 

[donnay]

I also got to thinking it could also possibly be a magnesium deficiency. Check this thread out: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...ncy-The-Source-of-Most-Modern-Chronic-Illness

 

[Simple]

A Tibetan told me years ago that the cure to anger is practicing patience. Meditation might help too, just keep in mind that doing nothing for even 10-15 minutes might be the hardest thing in the world to do, but it will allow you to feel more peaceful. Meditation is what helped me realize that I don't have to pass every car on the interstate.

 

[PreDeadMan]

If i'm really mad i just punch a pillow or my bed... (sometimes the wall and i pay for that lol) the punching bag also.

 

[VIDEODROME]

It might be worth exploring different Meditation techniques to see if another method might work better. Or seek out an instructor to guide you through it.

At the end of the day I meditate on breathing. No, it's not always easy to let thoughts go but that's okay.

 

[tod evans]

Ludes

 

[Anti Federalist]

I have many diversions...

 

[WilliamShrugged]

 

[KingRobbStark]

I manage it by having a lot of sex, and I ain't even kidding.

 

[Mckarnin]

Anger and anxiety can be different reactions to similar spikes in adrenaline due to stress and frustration. I tend to go in more of an anxiety direction but sometimes it wants to morph into anger.

I stick to activities that are readily available at all times and free, to blow off steam. For me that's dancing to loud eurodance music and doing housework vigorously.

I am careful to eat very little refined sugar, artificially colored food, preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup. Basically a diet high in protein and healthy fat with veggies makes me a much happier and calmer person.

As far as supplements go this powder makes a fizzy magnesium drink that is calming and helps your body relax (don't take more than recommended on the label or your bowels will go a bit nutty): http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vital...1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1331492298&sr=1-1-catcorr

Bach Flower Remedies are also very helpful. http://www.bachflower.com/ They are a natural type of mental health centric tinctures. They don't have bad side effects and are very gentle. Different folks will find success with taking different remedies but their "rescue remedy" blend is a good all around calmant that helps you clear your mind in the face of stress.

One of the individual remedies, Cherry Plum, could also be a good fit. Here's the emotional picture it's indicated for.

"Fear of mind being over-strained, of reason giving away, of doing fearful and dreaded things, not wished and known wrong, yet there comes the thought and impulse to do them." - Dr. Edward Bach


Edited to add that I feel you on the difficulty of doing meditation as it is typically envisioned (sitting still and quiet in some zen looking posture). If my body is still my mind goes nuts. On the other hand I have had a lot of success with meditation while doing dishes, sweeping the floor or doing other physical tasks where my brain can safely wander.

 

[bluesc]

Don't take life too seriously. Also weed helps.

Sounds so simplistic and unhelpful, but it works for me .

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I don't have anger issues, but I find music (playing and listening), exercise in general, and yoga relaxing.