Lots of things can make us angry. It can be a confusing feeling to understand and it can be hard to know exactly why you feel angry.
Anger is a really strong emotion and it can be hard to cope with. It can also lead to trouble! The trick is knowing how to be angry without ‘losing it’.
Anger can tell you about the things you want to change. It can help you to stand up for yourself.
Remember, if you feel angry, don't hurt yourself, others or damage property.
Anger is not the same as aggression. Anger is a feeling. Aggression is a behaviour, like hitting or shouting because you’re feeling angry.
People who feel angry can be aggressive.
Aggression can be used to hurt others or to break or damage things – it gets you into trouble, pushes people away and usually just makes things worse. Feeling angry is OK, but being aggressive towards others is not. There are good ways to express anger without hurting people or damaging things.
Take some time out and think about your anger and what sets it off. Don’t ignore the first signs. Don’t let your feelings get out of control. There are things you can do to help you manage your anger.
How do I know I’m starting to feel angry?
People feel anger in different ways:
People get angry for lots of different reasons:
It’s OK to feel really angry and not know why.
Sometimes you can feel angry because of other feelings. If someone has hurt you, do you feel so angry that you just want to hurt them back?
Stop and think about it:
Talking to someone you trust about your feelings can help you feel better. Talking helps you:
You could talk to:
There are things you can do that can help you feel better. Here are some ideas for you to try:
Remember, it’s OK to feel angry, it’s what you do with your anger that makes the difference.
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