Control Anger-Live Longer

Would you like to control anger, so you can live longer? You would be surprised how controlling your anger or temper will indeed help you live longer.

The old school of thought for manger management activity to handle your anger was to let it all out…punch a pillow, scream and yell. Wrong!

It is really just the opposite. By letting it rip, your anger actually escalates aggression, anger and anxiety.

But, the worst part is that it triggers body wide inflammation, that can seriously boost your immediate risk of heart attacks and strokes (plaque rupture) and long-term aging of important organs, like your brain, heart, skin, gonads and even your kidneys. Whew, that was a long sentence but it certainly was important.

Face it, unless you are Mother Teresa, it is very hard not to avoid getting angry if you are a human being. But you can flip that anger around, so that it does not make your RealAge older or harm you.  Try these anger management exercises that can work for you, not against you.

Anger Management Exercises

CHOOSE SMARTER WORDS. Words are very powerful, but do not jump to extremes.  For ex: “This !#@#%$ lawn mower never works,” or “You’re never on time!”

Tell yourself that this is just one of those things that happens sometimes…nobody is gonna die. Or as Gilda Radner used to say, “it is always something.”

This will give you some breathing space to defuse, or to fix what ever it was that upset you in the first place, that set you off.  Instead, you will wind up saying, “Whew, that is such a relief.”

DO THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE: Feel like cursing that !#@#%$  driver that just cut you off? Remember,  the opposite of anger is empathy. Imagine he just got word that his wife is in the hospital seriously ill and he just got the word. It would be impossible not to calm down faster if you think about how much that driver is suffering. The majority of people aren’t jerks or creeps on purpose.

EXERCISE: Most of us do not get enough exercise. Go for a fast walk, or do push-ups. Or simply press your fingers together hard and then take three deep long breaths.

You will find that focused physical activity can channel those negative angry feelings so they ease off without anyone getting hurt, especially, you.  The plus side is that you will be breathing too hard to say anything that you may regret later.

So, Baby Boomers, get a grip on it!  Control Anger-Live Longer and you will have less regrets.