Do you ever feel like mood swings are controlling your life? Are you worried about controlling your temper? Read on to get help with your anger…
It’s perfectly natural to get angry from time-to-time. For some of us, however, we can feel like our anger is getting out of control and worry that we might hurt someone else or get into trouble. Let’s look at how we can understand anger and the steps we can take to cope with it.
Why Do I Feel Angry?
There are lots of reasons why you might be feeling angry. You might be feeling:
- Misunderstood
- Frustrated at a person or situation
- Helpless
- Lonely
You might not be able to pinpoint a reason for your anger and that’s OK. The important thing to focus on is how to cope with your anger.
Dealing With Anger
There are lots of great techniques to help you with your anger. You can try them all to find out what works for you. You could try punching a pillow when you feel particularly frustrated or go outside for a walk. Taking yourself out of a heated situation gives you breathing space and time to calm down.
You could also write down how you’re feeling or, better still, talk to someone about it. Talking over your emotions can help you to look at the situation from a different perspective and can often help you to see things in a much clearer way.
For more ideas on how to calm down, read our 10 Ways To Calm Down guide.
Triggers & Signs Of Anger
Try to identify the things that make you angry. It might be the sound of someone chewing or that one friend who always makes a joke at your expense. Write down these triggers. Once you know what they are, you can take steps to control your reaction to them.
Now write down how you feel when you’re angry. You might feel your whole body tense up or a rush of blood to your face. Your breathing might start to quicken. Once you learn to spot the signs of your anger, you can work quickly to get it under control.
Try And Try Again!
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t master control of your anger right away. It will take lots of practise and there will be times when your anger gets the better of you. You could also try a different technique the next time you feel yourself losing control… you’ll find what works for you eventually.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help with your anger. Sometimes we can’t always identify our own body’s warning signs in the heat of the moment so you can ask a friend or family member to alert you to these when they see things escalating.
Mood Swings And You
Many teenagers experience mood swings, thanks to the hormonal changes of puberty. Mood swings can make you feel perfectly happy and complacent one minute, then sad, frustrated or weepy the next. You can be irritable for almost no reason at all.
Mood swings are a yo-yo of emotions which makes them difficult to understand and control. Knowing that mood swings are a common side-effect of being a teen can make them slightly easier to live with but not always.
When To Get More Help
While mood swings are normal, they can sometimes become too much. If mood swings or anger issues are causing you severe anxiety or extreme irritability, you can reach out to get help.
Childline – 0800 11 11
