“Way to use your turn signal, you jerk!”
“You messed up the dinner order! Can’t you do anything right?”
“I’m not paying for this. The service was horrible.”
Angie has a short fuse. She’s constantly shouting at other drivers on the road, criticizing her husband Jerry, and complaining about bad service—even when the victim of her anger doesn’t deserve it. Angie realizes she’s quick to lash out at her loved ones and strangers alike. She’s even tried to calm down, to be more level-headed, but failed. She assumes that she’s wired this way, and that there’s no hope for resolving her angry tendencies.
While it’s normal to doubt your ability to overcome a difficult challenge like anger issues, which Angie is experiencing here, it’s important to remember that where there’s a will there’s a way. And to continue pushing forward to better yourself. Often, a helpful step in doing so is working with a skilled mental health professional who is dedicated to helping you succeed on this mission. The counselors and therapists at Thriveworks have an impressive set of skills and extensive experience that enables them to help their clients with anger management. If you can relate to Angie and think you could benefit from anger management counseling, reach out to Thriveworks Charlotte today.
Do I Have Anger Issues? Why?
If you’re questioning whether or not you have anger issues, it might be worth reevaluating how you manage your anger and other difficult emotions. Does your blood boil when your friends are late for lunch? Are you quick to get angry when your spouse forgets to switch out the laundry? Do you think you could handle your anger in a more productive manner? You can benefit from working with an anger management counselor. They’ll help you address your anger issues, of which might be caused or exacerbated by any of the following common triggers:
- Dissatisfaction at work
- Heavy traffic
- Big crowds or busy places
- Loud or obnoxious people
- General discomfort
- Self-perceived failures
Do any of the above just enrage you? We all grow angry and annoyed from time to time, but it’s important we react and manage these feelings appropriately. Instead of making rude remarks, saying hurtful things, or acting violently, you should be able to express how you feel calmly and effectively. If this proves to be a problem area for you, consider working with an anger management counselor at Thriveworks Charlotte.
How Can Anger Management Counseling Help?
What does it feel like when you’re angry? For many, they can feel their heartrate pick up. Sometimes, they start sweating and experience a rush of adrenaline. These physical reactions can sometimes cause us to lash out and act inappropriately. The key here is to recognize these changes and calm ourselves down before the situation escalates further. This is easier said than done for those who struggle with anger management. That’s where an anger management counselor comes in.
Your anger management counselor will help you explore the triggers listed above, as well as helpful techniques for calming down when you are, indeed, triggered and at risk of lashing out in anger. Here are a few practices they might help you master:
- Breath work. When you feel your heart quicken, this is a cue to manually slow yourself down. Focus on your breath: take a big breath in and let a big breath out. Do your best to breathe from your stomach and fill your lungs with as much air as possible before letting it escape from your mouth.
- Journaling. Often, we look back and regret our angry outbursts. The problem is we didn’t have time to process those emotions as well as what provoked those emotions. Journaling helps you to sort through everything that happened and reach a clearer understanding of where you should go from here if someone’s upset you.
- Mindful Meditation. Like journaling, mindful meditation can help you clear your mind and better understand the sources of your feelings. To employ mindful meditation, try focusing on something you’re experiencing (other than your anger). Tune into your physical senses: What do you hear? What can you smell? What’s going on around you? If you need, you can even envision yourself somewhere else.
Start Anger Management Counseling at Thriveworks Charlotte Today
If you think you could use some help sorting through any potential anger issues, consider working with an anger management counselor at Thriveworks Charlotte. As mentioned above, these professionals can help you understand the primary source(s) of your anger and deal with these triggers more effectively. To set up an appointment or hear more about our services at Thriveworks Charlotte, call us at (704) 969-2597. We’re excited to work with you!