Keeping Your Cool

Understanding Anger and Its Management

Anger is a natural and necessary emotion that signals when something is wrong or when we perceive a threat. It is neither good nor bad. It simply conveys a message that a situation is upsetting, unjust or threatening. Hence, it is perfectly normal to feel angry when you believe you have been mistreated or wronged.

But anger becomes a problem when you express it in a way that harms yourself or others. When your anger becomes uncontrollable or chronic, it can lead to significant problems in your personal and professional life. Venting your anger is much more likely to have a negative impact on the way people see you, impair your judgment and get in the way of success. It can also lead to health problems.

It is important to manage our anger and the aggression that arises from it. While we cannot get rid of or avoid the things that enrage us, nor can we necessarily change them, we can learn to control our reactions to achieve a better outcome. Effective anger management involves recognising the triggers, understanding the different aspects of anger, and employing strategies to manage it constructively. Let us take a deeper look at the nature of anger, its effects and various techniques to manage it effectively.

THE NATURE OF ANGER