Menu
Menu

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Find work
    • Find work
    • MAX Connect
    MAX Employment Services
  • Improve your skills
    • Improve your skills
    • Find a course
    • Study with us
    • Learning resources
      • Living in Australia
      • Learning English
      • Using computers
    Training courses
  • Health and disability
    • Health and disability
    • Health assessments
      • Do you need an assessment?
      • Refer someone for a disability assessment
    • Manage your disability at work
    • Group health programs
    • NDIS and Disability Employment Services
    • Long-term disability
    • Therapy Services
    • School leavers and students
    • Injury or Illness
    Support services
  • Help and advice
    • Help and advice
      • Getting started
      • Resumes and cover letters
      • Improve your skills
      • Health and wellbeing
      • Applications and interviews
      • Job searching tools
      • Starting work
      • Ongoing support
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Your rights and privacy
    • Help with Centrelink
    • Useful contacts
    • Feedback and complaints
    Get the support you want
  • Employer services
    • Employer services
    • National partnerships
    • Find candidates
    • How we support employers
      • Financial support
      • Employee Assistance Program
      • Pre-Employment Medicals (Injurynet)
    • Employ someone with disability
      • Benefits of diversity
      • Types of disabilities
    • Offer work experience
      • Join the PaTH program
      • Offer a traineeship
      • Be a work for the dole host
    • Our work with employers
    Find great staff
  • What we do
    • What we do
    • MAX Employment
      • jobactive
      • Disability Employment Services
      • NDIS School Leaver Employment Supports
      • Parents Next
      • Jobs Victoria
    • MAX Support
      • Adult Migrant English Program
      • Skills for Education and Employment
      • Youth jobs PaTH
      • Vocational Training
      • Child Welfare Assessments
      • Disability Assessments
      • National Panel of Assessors
      • Program for Students with Disability
      • Therapy Services
    • MAX Community
      • Housing Employment Program
      • School Based Trainee Program
      • Prison-based services
      • Employer Services
    Our services and programs
  • About us
    • About us
    • Careers with MAX
    • Our customer promise
    • Our partners
    • MAXIMUS Worldwide
    • Our impact
    • Our leadership team
    • MAX Foundation
    Learn about MAX

Header Navigation Secondary Menu

  • News
  • Careers with MAX
  • Locations
  • Contact
  • Feedback and complaints

Language menu

  • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
  • اللغة العربية
  • پښتو ژبه
  • دری
  • 中文 Zhōngwén
  • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
  • हिन्दी भाषा
  • 中文
  • Wikang Filipino
  • زبان فارسي
  • Language Support
Aa

MAX Connect

Social Icons

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

Talk to our team

MAX solutions

MAX Solutions.

X

Services

  • Disability Employment Services
  • Assessments Australia
  • jobactive

Training Courses

  • Adult Migrant English Program
  • Skills for Education and Employment
  • PaTH Employabililty Skills Training

Articles

  • Getting Started
  • Resumes and Cover Letters
  • Health and Wellbeing

General

  • Careers
  • Find an office
  • Feedback and Complaints
  • FAQs
MAXsolutions
  • English
    Choose a language:
    • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
    • اللغة العربية
    • پښتو ژبه
    • دری
    • 中文 Zhōngwén
    • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
    • हिन्दी भाषा
    • 中文
    • Wikang Filipino
    • زبان فارسي
    • Language Support
  • Aa
  • MAXconnect
Search
Locations Contact

Breadcrumb

Home
  • Home
  • Blowing off steam – the healthy way to manage anger
  • Blowing off steam – the healthy way to manage anger

    Published by MAXSolutions on December 18 2020
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Linked in
    manage anger
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Linked in

    manage anger

    Everybody gets angry from time to time, but how you respond to your anger can make an enormous difference.

    Displays of anger in the workplace can cause significant distress for the recipient and can lead to disciplinary action for the person who is angry. It is the same at home; closeness and intimacy can be quickly eroded by disrespectful communication of anger.[1]

    How does anger impact us?

    Studies[2] show that people who experience anger strongly and frequently will have an increased risk for future exposure to interpersonal difficulties. They have lower levels of social support and greater conflict, which leads to more anger.

    Being able to manage your anger will improve your health.[3] Those who’ve learned how to control anger through anger management strategies have better physical health as well as mental health. For example, anger discussed in a constructive way has a beneficial effect on blood pressure and people who regularly discuss their anger have better general health, higher sense of self-efficacy, less depression, and lower body mass index.

    What can trigger our anger?

    People mostly get angry when they believe that they face a situation where they have been treated unjustly and unfairly[3]. Sometimes people get angry in response to a pattern of behaviour and often, there is an underlying emotion driving the anger[4], which when identified, is much easier to communicate respectfully.

    If you notice that you are reacting with strong anger to a situation, or series of events, it is worthwhile to spend some time reflecting trying to identify the emotions beneath the anger. For example, if you perceive that a colleague’s poor performance reflects badly upon you, you may feel anxious about the security of your job or you may worry about the impact on your reputation.

    While anger is the most noticeable emotion, in this situation, it is actually driven by fear. Acknowledging that fear and addressing it, makes it easier to respond to the situation without an inappropriate display of anger.

    How can we manage our anger?

    When people communicate with anger, responses are usually angry, defensive or critical; none of which help to resolve the problem or soothe the anger. Learning how to manage anger through staying calm and communicating our emotions is the key. Researchers[4] who have studied married couples have identified that those able to communicate their anger respectfully are better able to find a solution to the problem.

    Extensive research[5] into effective management of anger by Sandra Thomas has found four ways of effectively managing anger:

    1. Relax your body

    Becoming very angry brings with it a range of physiological reactions. Muscles become tense, blood pressure increases, body temperature rises and heart rate increases. Being able to reduce these has a positive effect on your ability to manage anger. Exercise (going for a walk or a run) is beneficial, calming activities such as mediation, yoga and diaphragmatic breathing all help to reduce the intensity of your anger.

    2. Think rationally

    When you are very angry, it is difficult to see the situation with logic and harder still to see it from the other person’s perspective. However, there are always two sides to every situation. If you can effectively consider others’ perspectives, use logic and be rational you will be better able to manage your anger.

    3. Move away from the situation

    It is much easier to reduce your anger and seek alternative perspectives when you are no longer in the environment that caused the anger. Leaving the room, even for a few minutes can make an enormous difference to your ability to manage anger.

    4. Find a solution

    While expressing anger in a supportive environment can make you feel better, it doesn’t help you move toward a solution. Be clear about the goal you wish to achieve. When you are calm, speak to the people involved in the situation. Identify their perspective and work together toward a solution by communicating respectfully.

    If you would like some assistance and learn how to deal with anger issues, contact your EAP on 1800 629 277 or support@maxsolutions.com.au .

    References and further reading:

    [1]. The Gottman Institute: How to Handle Anger in your Relationship

    [2]. Kelly, G. B., Smith, T. W., Butner, J., Nealey-Moore, J., Hawkins, M. W., & Uchino, B. N. (2007). Hostility, anger, and marital adjustment: Concurrent and prospective associations with psychosocial vulnerability. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30(1), 1-10

    [3]. Karahan, T. F., Yalçin, B. M., & Erbas, M. M. (2014). The beliefs, attitudes and views of university students about anger and the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy-oriented anger control and anxiety management programs on their anger management skill levels. Kuram Ve Uygulamada Egitim Bilimleri, 14(6), 2071-2082

    [4]. The Gottman Institute: The Anger Iceberg

    [5]. Thomas, S. P. (2001). Teaching healthy anger management. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 37(2), 41-8.

    Tags
    • Advice
    • Everyone
    • Health
    • Informational
    • Motivation and mindfulness
    • Log in or register to post comments
    Category
    Health and wellbeing

    Most popular help and advice

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on December 7 2020
     

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on January 5 2021
     

    6 types of Unusual interview questions and how to answer them

    6 types of Unusual interview questions and how to answer them

    Published by MAXSolutions on February 26 2021
     

    Following up a job application

    Following up a job application

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 30 2021
     
    More articles
    Was this article useful?
    Why did you choose Yes?
    Why did you choose No?

    Found this useful?

    Copied to clipboard
    Share this article

    Contact us

    • Have a question?

      Chat Now

      Find quick answers about employment services.

    • Customer Enquiries

      1800 603 503

      If you are a new or existing customer or have an enquiry about a service, contact our Customer Servicing Team

    • Need support?

      1800 807 505

      Talk to someone in our health team.

        

      If you need urgent help or are in an emergency, please dial 000.

      Alternatively please call:

      Lifeline: 13 11 14

      Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

      Respect Domestic Family Violence Service: 1800 737 732

       

    Send us an email:

    • General enquiry
    • Register for Disability Employment Services
    • Register for a service
    • Feedback and complaints

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Please fill in the contact form below or   Complete a survey

    Categories Lists

    Getting started
    Applications and interviews
    Resumes and cover letters
    Health and wellbeing
    Improve your skills
    Job searching tools
    Starting work
    Ongoing support
    COVID-19

    Recent posts

    The health benefits of work
    Jobs for people with bad backs
    Laughter is the best medicine
    Practicing mindfulness
    Blowing off steam – the healthy way to manage anger

    Monthly archive

    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021

    Pagination

    • Page 1
    • Next page Next

    Most popular help and advice

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on December 7 2020
     

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on January 5 2021
     

    6 types of Unusual interview questions and how to answer them

    6 types of Unusual interview questions and how to answer them

    Published by MAXSolutions on February 26 2021
     

    Following up a job application

    Following up a job application

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 30 2021
     
    More articles
    • Find a MAX office near you

      Office

      Our locations

       
    • Register with us

      Edit

      Register now

       
    • Talk to someone now

      Call

      Contact us

       
    • Let us know how we're doing

      Feedback

      Feedback

       
    Providing employment, disability and training services

    Providing employment, disability and training services in suburban and regional areas across Australia including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Canberra.

    Providing employment, disability and training services

    Ensuring your safety and support

    If you need help or support, our offices are a safe environment.

    Contact us

    Language menu

    • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
    • اللغة العربية
    • پښتو ژبه
    • دری
    • 中文 Zhōngwén
    • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
    • हिन्दी भाषा
    • 中文
    • Wikang Filipino
    • زبان فارسي
    • Language Support

    Footer

    • Home
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
    • Quality
    • Contact
    • Locations
    • Sitemap
    • MAXConnect

    Social Icons

    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

    © Copyright 2022 MAX Solutions. All rights reserved Registered Training Organisation: 0667

    Ask a question