Ways to Control Your Anger

          You just reached your house gate after a sweaty, tiring walk from your school. You walked a bit more toward your door, then crossed your threshold, and took off your battered shoes and socks, balled it up and stuck it in your shoes' insole. Before you even reached the landing of your staircase to upper floor, you already heard someone talking endlessly at the far end of the living room. His mouth won't stop moving and your ears started to fill of his squeaky voice. His asking for something he wanted to borrow on you over and over again and he wouldn't stop. Wouldn't you get pissed off if you're in that situation? You hadn't sit on your couch yet and someone was ready to wreck your day more. With that kind of setting, here are some ways that you can do to control your anger, based on my own methods. ^_^

1. Just breathe normally. I know you inhale deeply when you're angry and that makes you to snort. But for me, inhaling excessive amount of air feels like my chest will burst out and tenses my muscles, ready to lunge at whoever pissed me. There was a time that I was hyperventilating without  knowing that I'm doing it. First, the fingers on my hands and feet started to prickle and eventually curled in an odd angles. It followed by numbing which started on my feet up to my chest. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. But the doctor told me that I was going to be okay. That experience reminds me every time I got mad at something. Since then, I practice breathing normally when I'm furious. This will be the first step that can break out anything that may happen between you and the other.

2. Clear your mind. When you're angry, I know you picture yourself doing anything possible to the person you despised that will be considered crime if it will be done. Physical injury? Killing? "Ang sarap patayin" flashes in your mind, right? Clear those things and try to focus on what you're currently doing. For instance, if you got mad with someone while doing your homework, don't think about that person and the situation. Just focus on your paper and pen and pretend that you're doing your assignments sincerely. Or better, close your eyes for a minute and think of tranquility.

3. Think of something funny. Ah. Yes. A nice thing to do in the middle of your wrath. When was the last time you tripped on something while you're walking with your friends and you laughed about it? Or when you did something hilarious like "planking" when you're in school library? Or when you almost pooped in your pants because you had eaten a lot during lunch break? You'll find yourself chuckling before you even realized you are gradually coming off your temper. Better look a bit crazy because of a funny thought than to look sour because of anger.

4. Write about it. You can grab some papers and pen and write down about what you feel. I do this thing and sometimes I get to the extent that I almost curse the person responsible for it. Then after a little while, I just forgot about what happened. You'll surely feel better if you write because letting out of what's crumbling within you calms your heart and mind. The function of this technique is to shift your anger out of your head on paper.

5. Prayer. Only God can help you when your asking for calmness. If you're friends and family members are not around for you, talk to Him and there's no doubt that a few minutes later, you'll find yourself acting like nothing has happened.

6. Learn to Forgive. Many of us forget about this. It's hard to be humble alright, but letting your pride get on your way will make things worse.  Look at yourself being in your enemy's point of view too and understand why things turn out that way. Instead of wishing something bad on him, why not strive to truly forgive him/her as well as yourself?