I signed on to an anger management course and yesterday I went along to the first of six group sessions.
I’m not going to document every last detail but I thought some of what was said was very interesting. It’s probably what most people know but for me it was a bit of a revelation.
Namely, that:
a) anger is a natural emotion – a simple release of energy
b) it’s OK to be angry because it is part of the human condition
c) anger is a way of saying “no thank you”, “I don’t agree with that” or “stop it”
d) anger can be healing
e) we shouldn’t tell our children that they shouldn’t express their anger or that anger is bad
f) it is what we do with our anger that may not bring benefit so we should use it as a tool
g) it’s not helpful to hold in anger as that repression often leads to rage which is not a good thing.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be learning how to use anger as a tool and how to cut off the path to rage in “healthy, non-threatening and non-damaging” ways.
Watch this space ….
Happy Winter Solstice
8 hours ago
You know what? I could do with some of that.
ReplyDeletenice. i work with a lot of the kids i work with on this...i for one will be interested in seeing what they have to say...
ReplyDeletedid they ever catch your attacker?
I do believe anger can be healthy, but you're right, the trick is channeling it, using it as a tool as you say.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with point g-holding anger in can cause even bigger problems. I make a point of blowing off steam every once in a while (my family might say more than every once in a while), so my anger doesn't build up to a point where I can't manage it.
One of the reasons I started to run, during the darkest days of my divorce, was to release anger. I knew from my football days that exercise helped me to release tension and so has been the case with running. I'm not sure that I would survive without it.
ReplyDeleteI am still running now - and it has the added advantage of keeping the beer belly at bay (okay, it keeps the beer belly small!).
Your anger management class sounds quite interesting. I hope you enjoy it :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope it all helps you. I too have a problem with anger. I've sometimes obsessed for years over an incident.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to more of your thoughts on this.
ReplyDeleteI could probably do this with this as well. I used to think that I found anger motivating but increasingly I'm discovering it just gets in the way.
ReplyDelete