Do you get angry when someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you find that you are more and more frustrated at little things? Perhaps your wife or kids can push your buttons and send you into a rage all too easily? Or perhaps only you know just how irritating you find so many of the people in your life. Anger is a normal part of life, but when it becomes too intense or occurs too often, it can make life a challenge for you and for those that care about you. This poorly handled anger can be a major cause of strife in our most important relationships, both at home and at work.

One important thing we can do is work on some anger management skills. But there is more; another process involves unpacking how specifically you "do" anger. What assumptions do you make about the world around you? What "shoulds" do you place on those you relate to? Often "should" type thoughts, like "she should have known better" get us in trouble with our anger. The world is an unfair place; how we handle that reality and acknowledge it will help us get better at not becoming angry in the first place. This goes beyond managing anger to not even entertaining it from the beginning.

Anger is an interesting phenomenon in that often we feel like we are empowered and in control when we are angry. However later, we reflect and notice just how out of control we were. This can lead to feelings of remorse and sadness over the words and actions expressed in the fit of anger. If you have read this far, you probably really want to deal with the issue. We can help you to explore your inner thinking and ask the questions that may unlock the thought process behind those instantaneous angry reactions. One key to our success is your own level of remorse. If you don't feel badly about the effects of your anger on those around you, it is unlikely we can get the kind of traction necessary to bring about genuine change that will be satisfying to you.

Restoring Hope Counseling can help you both manage your anger and see it decrease by understanding how you get angry and finding new strategies for looking at life through a less angry set of glasses.