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UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING ANGER Cyndie Franklin Northeast Iowa Family Medicine Residency June 26, 2013
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Anger... is an emotional, affective, antagonistic response to a situation.
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Typically, anger is experienced when someone is... n blocked n frustrated n abused n neglected
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No situation or person can “make” us angry. Our anger is directly related to our perceptions of situations, persons and events.
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Sometimes anger masks other feelings.
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Sometimes other emotions mask anger.
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How we recognize, label and express our feelings is largely learned.
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Unhealthy ways of dealing with anger can be unlearned and healthy behaviors substituted.
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Recognizing, labeling and expressing anger in a healthy way is vital to our mental health.
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In and of itself, anger is a healthy emotion; Where we typically get into trouble is how we express our angry feelings.
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Anger is healthy when: n It is treated as a normal part of life n It is an accurate signal of real problems in a person’s life n It is expressed in moderation so there is no loss of control n It is clearly stated in ways that others can understand n It is temporary. It can be relinquished once an issue is resolved.
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Ways of Expressing Anger n Passive n Aggressive n Passive-Aggressive n Asssertive
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Positive Aspects of Anger n Anger can give us strength and determination n Anger tells us that something is wrong that needs to be resolved n Anger can be a helpful way to express tension and communicate negative feelings
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Negative Aspects of Anger n Anger interferes with our ability to think clearly and inclines us to act impulsively n Anger is physically upsetting n Anger is an antagonistic response that can lead to actions that harm others n Anger is unproductive in solving complex problems
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There is a biological basis to emotion, in general, and anger, in particular.
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Most researchers believe the limbic system is responsible for mediating the experience of anger. It may also play a critical role in the expression of anger.
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The limbic structures seem to be clearly involved with aggressive/violent behavior. Stimulation, removal or infection of these areas leads to marked alterations in behavior on this continuum.
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Major and minor neurological impairments are more likely in individuals with a history of violent or aggressive behavior.
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Unhealthy anger (violence or aggression) has multiple causes in addition to biological factors.
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Some of those causes include: n Childhood trauma n Personality disorders n Dysfunctional family dynamics n Socio-Cultural and gender factors n Temperament n Poor role models for anger expression n Mood disorders n Chronic Health problems n Substance Abuse n External factors n Internal factors
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When is anger a problem? n When it is too frequent. n When it is too intense. n When it lasts too long. n When it leads to aggression.
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Dealing With Anger When done effectively, anger control does not mean bottling it up or keeping a tight lid on it.
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Anger management will involve several components: n Learning how not to get angry in the first place. n Keeping anger at a moderate level of intensity and expressing it constructively. n Using strategies to change problem situations.
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You must become an “expert” about your personal anger reactions.
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Inappropriate Ways of Dealing with Interpersonal Anger n Aggressive Behavior n Passive -aggressive behavior n Passive n Displacement n Scapegoating
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A useful way of dealing with interpersonal anger is to use the assertive model.
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The assertive model involves: n Identifying the specific behavior of the other person that has upset you. n Decide if the issue/behavior is worth fighting about. n Pick a time. Express your intention to discuss/fight. n Express your viewpoint using an assertive model of feedback.
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An Example of the assertive model would be: n When: “When you buy expensive items using our savings,...” n The effects are: “I feel discounted and angry.” n I would prefer: “I would like for you to consult me on your intention to spend more than $100 from our savings.”
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Intense anger may require additional approaches. n Psychopharmacological treatment n Cognitive re-structuring n Behavioral techniques n Address depression or other problems that are being masked by anger/rage
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