Anger Management Blog
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Anger Management
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Using Your IPod to Help with Anger Management
One of the most important tools I stress in my course on anger management is to learn how to recognize the early warning signs that you are getting stressed out and then how to deal with that stress. To many of us it may seem like our anger just pops up out of the blue, but if we really slow things down we will see that in most cases it slowly builds up - you wake up without getting a full nights sleep, traffic is horrible, the boss chews you out, the computer at work is running very slowly, traffic stinks all the way home. All day long your stress level is building, but oftentimes you are so used to it that you aren't even aware of it until you reach the tipping point and then POW!! To anyone watching, and maybe even to you, it seems like it is an overreaction to something relatively minor, like someone cutting you off in traffic or your kids bike being in the driveway. But, in reality, it is the straw that broke the camels back after a build up of stress.
Because of that its important to tune into your stress level when it hits a 3 or 4 on a scale of ten and do something to calm yourself. I show you all sorts of tricks in the course, but one of my favorite is using your iPod, iPhone, Blackberry or computer. You can download or stream your favorite tv show, comedian, music, etc... to take you on a stress break. A ten minute break on something silly or relaxing can end up saving you hours of making up time after you've gotten angry over something. Remember - the most important trick in managing anger is to tune into your feelings and then do something to relax yourself when you feel yourself getting to a level 3 or 4.
Because of that its important to tune into your stress level when it hits a 3 or 4 on a scale of ten and do something to calm yourself. I show you all sorts of tricks in the course, but one of my favorite is using your iPod, iPhone, Blackberry or computer. You can download or stream your favorite tv show, comedian, music, etc... to take you on a stress break. A ten minute break on something silly or relaxing can end up saving you hours of making up time after you've gotten angry over something. Remember - the most important trick in managing anger is to tune into your feelings and then do something to relax yourself when you feel yourself getting to a level 3 or 4.
Anger management advice by Dr. Joe James at 6:38 PM
