Anger: Education and Information. Dr. Kevin Raper Compass Point Counseling

Transcription

1 Anger: Education and Information Dr. Kevin Raper Compass Point Counseling

2 Anger Education: What is Anger Dr. Kevin Raper Compass Point Counseling

3 What is Anger? Anger is defined by Webster s dictionary as A strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility and "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage. While anger is often considered to be a temporary emotion, there are instances in which people suffer from what is considered to be chronic anger problems. A chronic anger situation is described as someone being angry on a regular basis to the point where their anger effects People express anger in a variety of both internal and external ways.

4 What is Anger? Anger is often processed and expressed differently by different people depending on their own individual situation. These situations include, but are not limited too Being angry on a chronic or consistent basis without cause. Processing situations that cause legitimate anger inappropriately. Being angry as a result of a comorbid or cooccurring problem.

5 What is Anger? Being angry on a chronic or consistent basis without cause. Some people have issues with chronic or consistent anger where they either become angered easily or have a hard time controlling anger once it has occurred. This type of anger is often a result of someone not being able to cope with a situation or express their feelings in an appropriate manner.

6 What is Anger? Processing situations that cause legitimate anger inappropriately. Some people with anger issues are legitimately having problems that consistently anger them, but they are not able to express that anger in a way that is healthy or appropriate. This type of anger is often explosive on an inconsistent and sometimes unpredictable manner. This type of anger is often a result of a stressful encounter or situation.

7 What is Anger? some people are angry or aggressive because of cooccurring issues such as depression and anxiety. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems may present as anger in many situations. This is often a result of someone not knowing how to express their emotions or deal with the overarching mental health issues.

8 What is Anger? While anger issues are often seen as something explosive or aggressive, anger as a whole is commonly presents in one of three ways. Expressive Anger Suppressive Anger Calming Anger

9 Expressive Anger Expressive Anger Expressive anger is the presentation of anger in an outward and open manner. This includes things such as elevated voices, shouting, aggressive speech, and physical expressions of anger such as violence and intimidation. This is the most volatile type of anger expression as it often involves reactive behaviors that are explosive and often aggressive.

10 Suppressive Anger? Suppressive Anger Suppressive anger occurs when someone internalizes or holds in their anger and emotions. While suppressive anger may be positive in regards to how it limits overall explosive behaviors, it can be negative in how it may impact a person emotionally. Suppressing anger without finding an appropriate outlet or coping skill may cause a person to internalize feelings of anger or stress in a way that causes both excess anxiety, and feelings of depression or inadequacy. While it is sometimes beneficial to suppress anger due to a situation or other reason, the feelings of anger needs to be addressed overall through positive coping skills and venting techniques.

11 Calming Anger? Calming Anger Calming anger is described as the act of remaining calm while someone is angry and in a volatile state. This type of anger is seen through a calm expression while internally attempting to control ones overall behaviors and emotions through the use of positive coping skills and anger management. Calming anger is similar to suppressive anger with the exception of the internalization of emotions and feelings. Calming anger is a positive way to express or experience anger as calm anger is a managed type of anger.

12 What is Anger? While there are multiple ways that anger can be both appropriately and inappropriately expressed, all forms of chronic or severe anger have a physical and mental impact on a person. The following sections will discuss how anger can effect someone both mentally and physically.

13 Anger Education: The Effects of Anger Dr. Kevin Raper Compass Point Counseling

14 The Effects of Anger The American Psychology Association states that anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. However, anger can lead to problems at work, in your personal life, and in personal relationships when it gets out of control and turns destructive. Being angry on a consistent and regular basis can also cause multiple mental problems and chronic health conditions. The following slides will discuss the effects of anger on the mind and the body.

15 The Physical Effects of Anger Feeling and expressing anger on a regular basis may cause actual damage or problems with someone s mind and mental state. The effects of the increased chemical reactions in the brain may lead to emotional problems such as depression, social isolation, and anxiety which can then lead to other problems such as drug and alcohol abuse. There are also several physical side effects to being angry on a regular basis. While physical side effects of being angry can be very serious and even fatal. The severity of these effects often vary depending on a person s overall physical health, stress levels, frequency of anger outbursts, and other comorbid issues that may become prominent when they are angry.

16 The Effects of Anger An anger outburst on a regular basis can put you at a greater risk for a heart attack or cardiac related episode. A Harvard research study found that someone s risk for a heart attack is doubled in the two hours after an angry outburst or severe anger related incident. The same research also found that a person s overall risk of a stroke or blood clot is drastically increased during this time period. This is often correlated with a person s age, body mass, and overall level of health.

17 The Physical Effects of Anger Being angry can weaken your immune system and prevent you from fighting diseases and illness. Research has shown that people who are mad or angry more often than normal tend to become ill or sick more often than those who are calmer and have a less aggressive attitude or personality. These people also have a hard time fighting illnesses or disease as their bodies do not create as many antibodies as someone who is less stressed or angry on a regular basis.

18 The Effects of Anger Being angry can cause an increase in overall anxiety levels. This is due to anger causing an increase in blood pressure and overall tension in the body. Constant feelings of anger can cause blood pressure and tension to remain elevated over longer periods of time which cause anxiety and stress levels to increase. Consistent feelings of anxiety and stress over long periods of time as a result of chronic anger can lead to feelings of sadness and depression.

19 The Effects of Anger If someone is consistently having anger related problems, they may encounter significant consequences. The following sections will discuss how anger can lead to consequences in a person s life.

20 Anger Education: The Consequences of Anger Dr. Kevin Raper Compass Point Counseling

21 The Consequences of Anger Being angry on a regular basis can lead to severe consequences in a person s life. These consequences can occur in a variety of settings and ways and include things such as interpersonal problems and legal problems related to being angry. The following slides will provide examples of how being angry on a regular basis can effect a person in regards to where they work, how they interact with other people, and how they may incur legal problems associated with being angry.

22 The Consequences of Anger Professional Being angry in the workplace may cause someone to experience problems that are both personal and professional. The personal aspects of being angry in the work environment may lead to problems with coworkers who do not want to work with someone or help them when they need assistance in a work related manner. The professional impacts of being angry in the workplace could include things such as disciplinary actions, suspensions, or even loss of employment.

23 The Consequences of Anger Interpersonal The term interpersonal refers to relationships with other people in a social manner. Anger can effect someone s interpersonal skills in regards to having friends, personal relationships, and family relationships. People who are angry often report that they do not have positive peer or friend relationships because people to not want to be exposed to the person s anger outbursts and behaviors.

24 The Consequences of Anger Legal There are several legal problems associated with having anger control issues. These include legal charges such as domestic violence, conduct disorder, and public indecency. Anger related charges can remain on a person s criminal record and lead to legal problems including, but not limited too, probation, fines, court ordered treatment, restraining orders, and imprisonment.

25 The Consequences of Anger Anger issues can lead to severe consequences in professional, social, and legal settings. However, there are many different ways that someone can address anger through the utilization of coping skills and other types of treatment. The following section discuss coping skills and alternatives to anger.

26 Anger Education: Alternatives to Anger Dr. Kevin Raper Compass Point Counseling

27 Alternatives to Anger There are many ways to deal with anger problems. These include recognizing your own warning signs of getting angry. Addressing tense or anger situations appropriately. Utilizing therapeutic techniques to help alleviate anger problems. Identifying and utilizing coping skills that may alleviate anger issues.

28 Identify Your Anger Signs Being able to identify your own anger warning signs may help you to develop coping mechanisms to alleviate your symptoms prior to acting out in an angry or aggressive manner. Warning signs often include Elevated heartrate Feelings of stress, anxiety Change of tone and volume of voice Tension/stiffness in muscles

29 Identify Your Anger Signs Coping Skills Being able to identify your personal signs of anger escalation helps to know when you should work on controlling yourself to decrease the feelings of anger or aggression. Being able to express your emotions with calm words rather than physical aggression or violent speaking will assist you in developing full control over you anger issues. The use of coping skills can help someone to gain control of their anger while lowering their overall levels of anger, stress, and anxiety.

30 Addressing Tense Situations Coping Skills Coping skills are a positive alternative to becoming angry. The utilization of appropriate coping skills help to address tense or possible volatile situations before you are in a state of anger that becomes uncontrollable. The following are examples of positive coping skills that can help someone to learn ways of controlling anger while lowering overall levels of stress and anxiety.

31 Utilize Coping Skills Deep Breathing: Coping Skills Practicing deep breathing techniques can often help to relieve symptoms of anger while also allowing you to remain calm enough to speak rationally and confidently during a tense situation. Walking: Some people find that taking a walk and leaving a situation for a short period of time helps them to calm down and process a tense or frustrating situation.

32 Utilize Coping Skills Time Away: Coping Skills Being able to spend a few moments alone to gather ones thoughts or process feelings of anger or anxiety in private so that they may utilize other coping skills. Listening to music: Music is often used as a form of coping skill for people who have anger issues. Being able to listen to music while angry can help someone to appropriately express their feelings in a way that is controlled.

33 Utilize Coping Skills While this section presented several common coping skills such as listening to music and walking, each person is different in regards to what type of coping skills work for them. People with anger issues need to work towards developing a Mad Plan that they can implement when they feel that they are becoming angry or irritated. A Mad Plan is a plan that is developed in order to give a person with anger issues a structured plan to help them calm down or release their anger in an appropriate manner.

34 The Mad Plan Many people with anger issues utilize mad plans in ways that are not normally noticeable by the people around them. For example, their mad plan may be for the person to breathe deeply while counting to ten in their head, or to focus on a spot in the distance and sing a song in their head until they have been able to gain control of their emotions. The purpose of the mad plan is for a person to develop the ability to recognize when they are getting angry and know when to utilize the coping skills necessary to control the anger without causing harm or aggressive actions.

35 Anger Education: Getting Help Dr. Kevin Raper Compass Point Counseling

36 Getting Help Dealing with anger and aggression problems is not something that can occur immediately. The person must be willing to commit to making a change in their behaviors and actions in order to address their anger management needs. The purpose of this course is to provide general education for people who feel that they may have an issue with anger. If you feel that you need further assistance with actual anger management and treatment please contact your local mental health provider and discuss any available treatment options.