Awareness and Anger Management
By Devora Donahoo
As we rush around in our daily worlds, most of the time we are not aware of what is going on around us, much less what is going on inside of us – our thoughts, feelings, and bodily responses. It is very easy to get caught up in the mundane activities in our lives that we lose sight of what really is going on. Being aware of ourselves includes knowing how our body reacts to a situation, as well as the thoughts and feelings that come along with it.
Those who struggle with controlling their anger do not always know why they are so angry. This is when developing awareness comes into play.
Awareness of where the anger comes from is one key aspect to managing anger. However, everyone does not initially have the insight into figuring out the deeper meaning behind their angry reactions.
The subconscious plays a powerful role in how we respond when we are confronted with something.
So how do we foster more awareness and insight into our anger?
There are many ways to go about this, but there are two that stick out. One of these is to become more aware of ourselves, including what is going on in our external state, such as our surroundings, as well as what is going on in our internal states, including our thoughts, feelings, and bodily reactions. By making a conscious effort to pay attention to ourselves and our surroundings, we will have a better awareness of what is going on.
Another way to cultivate more awareness in our lives is to “dig deep.” When we experience a situation and have a strong emotional reaction to it, think back of when you have felt this way before, or what other situations you have experienced in the past that are similar to this particular one. This helps us identify the true issues of what actually is going on, and in turn, a better understanding of what we need to work on in anger management.
Devora Donahoo M.A. MFTI is a Certified Anger Management Faciltator at Daybreak Counseling Service
