Anger Management Techniques: Expert Reveals Top 7 for the Holidays

BETHESDA, MD (November 22, 2010): Holiday stress causes a spike in both public and domestic violence. In response to this, anger management expert and psychologist Joseph W. James has released a white paper report “Anger Management Holiday Guide: How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Season”. The report covers topics as diverse as planning for holidays gatherings, dealing with kids and family, minimizing stress associated with shopping and stress management.

Seven of the top tips suggested by Mr. James include:

1. Tune into and catch stress early. Most people are so used to feeling stressed out that they aren’t even aware of it building. Develop a stress scale from one to ten. When stress reaches a four or five level take a break. Take a nap, get some exercise, go for a walk, take a bath, do something for at least half an hour.

2. Do things differently this year: Shop earlier. Get more family support. Take time off from work. Request more civil behavior from family members.

3. Try looking at things in a different light. Life really is the story a person tells him or herself. Slow down, become aware of thought patterns. Ask what kind of mood this line of thinking is likely to result in. If it is a desired mood state stay with it. If not ask if there is a preferred way to feel and try to think of a different story or way of looking at a situation to arrive at the preferred mood state.

4. Practice Good Self Care. Get the right amount of rest. Eat right. Exercise. Keep an eye on alcohol intake. Enjoy life!

5. Be careful about the amount of alcohol served. As Homer Simpson says “Alcohol – the cure to and the cause of all of life’s problems.” Alcohol may help one to loosen up and relax, but different people react in different ways to alcohol. Try to keep it down to two drinks maximum.

6. Be realistic about family. If Uncle Roy has told the same story year after year, he’s going to do it again. If Aunt Tilly has a habit of criticizing everything she is still going to do that. Remember most relatives only visit once a year for a few hours and most people can tolerate things that short a period. Try to find some humor in it.

7. Let bygones be bygones. People often think of their anger as a way of keeping the one who hurt them in a kind of emotional prison. As long as they held onto the anger and bitterness, the wrongdoer stays in jail. But the only one who is really in an emotional prison is the one who hasn’t forgiven. More often than not, the person one is angry at is either unaware, doesn’t care or simply don’t give it much thought. Meanwhile, the person with the grudge walks around stewing and obsessing over the wrong that was done. The anger ends up affecting the one who was wronged than the wrongdoer.

“Following these anger management techniques can make the difference between a happy and an anger and stress filled holiday season” says psychologist Joe James.

Contact Information

Joe James

Psychologist

Joseph W. James, Ph.D., P.C.

Contact via E-mail