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What is Anger Management?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Anger management refers to therapeutic strategies that allow people to overcome excess feelings of anger and to not act upon destructive impulses that anger may cause. Sometimes, people have individual therapy sessions to work on their anger issues, while others may attend group therapy. This therapy may be court-mandated, when a person is clearly in need of help to control feelings of rage. Some prisons have also begun anger management sessions to help criminals with violent pasts become free of anger driven behaviors. People often voluntarily participate in classes or therapy, however, when they recognize that their behavior and reactions are well outside the normal range.

The most popular anger management model at present is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In this method, those participating in therapy record moments when anger is at its greatest, identify feelings or “hot thoughts” that drive the emotion, list reasons why such thoughts may or may not hold true, and then reanalyze their level of anger. Emotions are generally rated on a percentage basis.

Anger management helps people deal with excessive feelings of anger.
Anger management helps people deal with excessive feelings of anger.

A person participating in CBT might start with a 95% feeling of anger, and through this thoughtful process, bring this level down to 60%. One of the goals with this type of therapy is to make people stop and think, analyzing their anger instead of resorting to actions that are destructive to themselves or other people. As people become more adept at CBT, they may be able to do this process in their heads. Situations or “hot thoughts” that evoked anger before may be recognized and easier to dismiss.

Anger management counseling can include discussing trigger issues that cause hostility.
Anger management counseling can include discussing trigger issues that cause hostility.

CBT also incorporates relaxation techniques, which can help people to diffuse anger. These exercises might include deep breathing, as well as the normal analysis work associated with CBT. Most therapists recognize anger as an emotion used to mask deeper feelings of hurt such as grief or sadness. Help is given in anger management training so that people can identify the deeper feelings behind anger. Often, anger can be diffused when a person recognizes other feelings driving it.

Anger management may help couples.
Anger management may help couples.

Anger management is often successful to the degree at which people are truly willing to address their feelings of anger. A diagnosis of underlying conditions causing excess anger, like severe depression, anxiety disorder, or bipolar conditions, must also be made to identify those people who might need medication to fully recover. It is certainly possible for most people to control their anger, and the CBT model has good success when people actively embrace its process.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon352639

My boyfriend just got arrested for an outburst in public. Where do I start with trying to get him help?

oasis11

Sunny27- I agree with you. Maybe if more and more people sought help there would be less abusive relationships. When there is an outburst of anger, everyone suffers not just the person with the anger issues.

They often say that words with emotion hurt more than physical abuse because a bruise fades but hurtful words never do. They linger on in your psyche forever which is more of a reason that people with anger management problems should seek help immediately. Remember that hurtful words and actions can never be erased.

Sunny27

Excellent article. I agree that anger is really an outward response to depression or feelings of hopelessness. Instead of crying, an angry person uses rage as a coping mechanism, but instead of relieving this hurtful feeling the problems become worse.

Adults are responsible for their actions and people are usually less forgiving for those that express blatant rage than for those that simply cry about their sorrows.

The stigma with expressing anger along with the destructive future possibly of continually engaging in this form of expression is a huge form of concern for all. Those experiencing outbursts of anger need to get help before they do something that they might later regret.

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    • Anger management helps people deal with excessive feelings of anger.
      By: ptnphotof
      Anger management helps people deal with excessive feelings of anger.
    • Anger management counseling can include discussing trigger issues that cause hostility.
      By: Alexander Raths
      Anger management counseling can include discussing trigger issues that cause hostility.
    • Anger management may help couples.
      By: Junial Enterprises
      Anger management may help couples.
    • In some cases, anger management and grief therapy are part of a broader treatment plan.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      In some cases, anger management and grief therapy are part of a broader treatment plan.
    • Difficulty with controlling anger can lead to high blood pressure.
      By: Minerva Studio
      Difficulty with controlling anger can lead to high blood pressure.