We all feel anger, it’s an emotion that can ignite a fire within us forcing us to do or say things we regret. But why do we feel anger and how can we control it?

Anger is a natural response to stimuli we perceive as threats. Anger can cause our body to release adrenaline (getting all worked up), our muscles to tighten, and heart rate and blood pressure to increase.

What triggers your anger?

I feel anger specifically if I think I’m being scammed or taken advantage of. Being wronged fires up this innate response. 

My anger was definitely tested this past month.  I encountered many obstacles that ignited that fire within. I don’t know if I had a bout of bad luck or simply had some lessons to learn but what I could take away from this was learning how to react in a more calm manner.

My reactions were different from how they would have been even a few months ago. Maybe it came with growing another year older? Maybe it has been my daily meditation practice?

I know that reacting with anger and frustration isn’t going to have a positive result. It never does. Instead, I take a deep breath and channel my inner calm.

Understand your hormones associated with anger

I’ve learned a lot more about my hormones this past month. I was so sick of self-diagnosing myself with everything under the sun due to the mood swings I would experience, dependent on the time of the month.

I began to learn about my menstrual cycle, tracking my mood each day which allowed me to understand why I was feeling a little more irritated on certain days. What a relief that it was completely normal to feel these emotions!

If you don’t track your cycle already, I would highly recommend the Flo app. It’s the only app I’ve actually been able to keep up with as it’s easy to use and very insightful.

I now feel a lot less anxious understanding my hormones, how they can affect my day-to-day life and what I can do to alleviate these symptoms.

Control your reaction to your anger 

If something frustrates you or irritates you today. Try taking a few deep breaths and learn to not react straight away. Walk away.

If someone really angers you, before responding, write out everything you want to say to them and wait at least an hour to send it. You’ll usually cool off and realise you may have been overreacting.

Put things in perspective 

Another thing that stopped me from getting angry this month was also looking at the bigger picture – even though I may have got scammed, had plans go to shambles, lost a drone, had my credit card eaten by an atm… I still have an incredible life and am so absolutely grateful for my health.

These “third world problems” are just that at the end of the day. As long as everyone I love and myself is safe and healthy that is all that truly matters.

Learning to control anger has been one of the best things for me (and those around me). 

At the end of the day anger is unavoidable but how you let it control you is something you have power over.