HEALTH MATTERS
THERE’S much evidence that we’re becoming increasingly stressed as a nation.
Reasons for this include the struggle to balance work demands with family commitments.
Effective stress management is a subject deserving several health columns of its own.
And it’s a subject to which I’ll return.
But I want to focus this week on how to manage anger, which is among the most unhelpful reactions to stress.
Sixty five per cent of people have cited that they experience rage at work, along with 43 per cent of people regularly losing their temper.
Meanwhile, 45 per cent of people lose their temper during rush hour traffic.
As a society and as individuals we have a choice to either add fuel to the fire or to douse the flames of our anger.
When we think of doing the right thing, it can often be hijacked by our feelings and emotion.
This can cause a tremendous amount of damage, which is reflected in an increase in incidents of domestic violence, youth crime and prison population among others.
If you’re among the many people who feel they may need help managing their anger, I’d recommend visiting www.angermanage. co.uk.
You can take different tests to understand your anger and what you should do about it.
There are ways to deal with anger such as:
Recognise your triggers
Count to 10
Breathe slowly
In the longer-term it can also be helpful to:
Exercise for half an hour at least three times a week so you’re slightly out of breath
Eat a balanced diet and try to get between seven and nine hours sleep a night
Find time for a favourite hobby
Talk honestly to loved ones about how you feel.
For more information on anger management visit www.angermanage. co.uk/.