Anger
Anger is a natural response when we feel threatened, attacked, frustrated or treated unfairly. It is not always a ‘bad’ emotion as it can help us identify things that are hurting us or causing problems.
Anger becomes a problem when:
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It causes destructive or unhelpful behaviour
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It has a negative impact on your mental and/or physical health
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It hurts or upsets others around you
Physical Symptoms
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Heart beating fast
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Breathing quicker
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Tensing muscles
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Clenching jaw or fists
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Tapping feet, getting restless
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Lump in throat
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Shaking
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Sweating
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Eyes – narrow vision
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By recognising these symptoms early you can learn to calm yourself before getting aggressive.
Short Term Coping strategies
When you feel yourself getting angry:
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Count to 10
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Remove yourself from the situation to calm down
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Go for a short walk
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Talk to someone you trust who is not involved in the situation
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Tear up a newspaper, hit a pillow
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Focus on breathing
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Relax your body
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Try mindfulness techniques
Prevent
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Learn your triggers
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Calm down using coping strategies
Prepare
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Examine your thought patterns; can you interpret the situation differently?
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Learn to communicate your feelings effectively
Continue
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Practice calming techniques
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Make lifestyle changes – eat well, sleep well and be active
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Support handout
This printable document is a useful reminder of what you can do to support your child when they are feeling angry. Print it out and pop it on the fridge, wall, bedroom as a reminder
​Useful Websites
We improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through our network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning.
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Your online mental wellbeing community - Free, safe and anonymous support
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We are leading the movement to make sure every young person gets the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.
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Helping your child with anger issues
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Provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
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