5 Benefits of Anger Management Therapy
Anger is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time, but it can become problematic when it controls your behavior. When you feel intensely angry, you might be tempted to act recklessly or lash out at those around you. With healthy anger management skills, you’re typically able to dismiss these impulses and process your anger in a less harmful way. If you struggle with anger management, though, you may become so completely consumed by your rage that you no longer feel like yourself.
No one deserves to live with such overwhelming anger. Not only can it lead to regrettable decisions in the moment, but it can dramatically elevate your stress levels and put you in a constant state of fight-or-flight. The smallest inconvenience can make you feel as if the world is ending, leading to constant elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, muscle tension, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
While some people may be more prone to anger management issues than others, it is possible for anyone to get their anger under control. Just like you can learn to cope with anxiety or other painful emotions, you can develop coping strategies for your anger so that it no longer rules your life. Anger management therapy is an excellent option if you’re ready to get to the root of your anger and let go of your rage for good.
What Is Anger Management Therapy?
Anger management therapy is a form of counseling that helps you take control when you’re feeling angry. Although anger is an unavoidable emotion, our response to anger is within our control. During anger management therapy, you’ll learn to identify the situations that provoke your anger, and you’ll practice healthy and safe ways to process and express your emotions. As you become more familiar with the anger management techniques, you’ll find it easier and easier to incorporate them into your daily life.
The goal of anger management therapy is not to prevent you from ever becoming angry again. Even if you try to avoid your triggers, no one can stop themselves from ever feeling upset or frustrated. Instead, the purpose of anger management therapy is to equip you with the tools you need to acknowledge your anger and deescalate it before it affects your behavior.
Types of Anger Management Therapy
Anger management therapy can take on a variety of forms. When you work one-on-one with a counselor, they may take a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach to treatment. During CBT, you explore the specific situations that elicit strong emotions, paying careful attention to your thoughts and actions during those moments. Then, you identify the harmful or unhelpful thinking habits that are contributing to the cycle of distress, and you learn how to replace those patterns with constructive thoughts.
CBT can be an especially helpful form of therapy because it helps you view the moments that anger you more objectively. By stepping outside of your own emotions and beliefs to examine what is or isn’t true in your thinking patterns, you can learn to take a more nuanced approach to frustrating situations.
Meditation and relaxation exercises are also commonly used in anger management therapy. When you’re overcome by your anger, deep breathing or other relaxation techniques may not feel accessible. However, the more you practice these exercises with the help of your therapist, the easier it becomes to utilize them when you start to feel angry.
Couples or family counseling can another helpful opportunity to address your anger management. If your anger is mostly directed toward your partner or family members, your therapist may recommend group sessions so that you can all approach the problem as a team.
5 Benefits of Anger Management Therapy
When you always live your life on the edge of rage, you may forget what it’s like to feel calm and collected. Anger management therapy can provide so much value to your life and relationships, and it may even transform your understanding of yourself and your world. The following are five of the most important benefits of anger management therapy:
1. Anger management therapy helps you identify your triggers.
The first step toward controlling your anger is knowing when to expect it. You may know that certain people or situations will always trigger your anger, or your outbursts may feel more sporadic. It’s highly likely that there’s an underlying theme or pattern with your anger issues, though, and you can discover it through anger management therapy. When you understand your triggers, you can approach challenging situations with a heightened amount of self-awareness, which can prevent you from lashing out or becoming overwhelmed.
2. Anger management therapy teaches you healthy ways to cope with anger.
Anger management counseling won’t encourage you to suppress your anger, but it will teach you how to process and move on from it in a healthy way. You and your therapist might practice expressing your frustrations or concerns verbally so that you can resolve interpersonal problems before they escalate, or you may work with relaxation exercises that ease your fight-or-flight response.
3. Anger management therapy reduces your stress and anxiety.
Anger and anxiety go hand-in-hand, but improving your anger management skills can help you ease your stress and anxiety. Feeling on-edge all the time can take a serious toll on both your physical and mental health. You might experience high blood pressure, muscle pain, headaches, difficulty sleeping, or other challenges due to your anger issues. Anger management therapy teaches you to remain as calm as possible during stressful situations, which can make you feel so much happier and healthier.
4. Anger management therapy strengthens your personal and professional relationships.
Anger is an internal experience, but it can cause external behaviors. When you act on angry impulses, you can put a strain on your relationships. People with anger issues often struggle with the feelings of guilt and shame that come after an outburst but learning to manage your anger ensures that your personal and professional connections remain healthy. If relationship problems are your main concern with your anger, you and your therapist might work on interpersonal problem-solving skills so that you can make your frustrations known before you lash out.
5. Anger management therapy makes you a more empathetic, compassionate person.
Sometimes, we respond in anger when we don’t understand the other person’s intentions. In most cases, those who anger us don’t truly mean us harm. They may have been misguided in their decisions or unclear in their communication but rushing to anger removes our ability to look at the situation with nuance. Throughout the process of anger management counseling, you’ll learn to better empathize with others and understand their perspective, which makes you a more compassionate person overall.
Anger is not at all an enjoyable or comfortable emotion, and you shouldn’t let it control your thoughts or your actions. If you’re struggling with anger, a counselor can help. Menachem Psychotherapy Group offers anger management therapy for clients who want to take charge of their emotions and relate more positively to the world. Reach out to us today if you’re ready to work with an anger management therapist in Los Angeles.
