What Are the Different Types of Anger Management Activities?

Some of the most common anger management activities include learning to relax, exercising regularly, talking about your feelings and finding the humor in a situation. Such activities are typically done with a professional counselor, in a group setting, or on your own at home. Many of the activities are designed to help people control their thoughts before angry outbursts occur.

Anger is often tied to disappointment or fear. Everyone feels these emotions but, left unchecked, they can do a lot of damage. Anger needs to be controlled before it escalates and causes irrational behavior. Uncontrolled anger also can lead to words or actions that cause damage and cannot be taken back later.

Practicing relaxation techniques is one of the more common anger management activities. Imagining a relaxing setting such as a tropical beach or other favorite vacation spot can help take the focus off angry thoughts. Over time, it gets easier to conjure up these images and reduce feelings of anger or stress. Deep breathing and various forms of meditation also are stress-reducing techniques that can help reduce anger.

Similar to relaxation techniques, exercising can divert attention away from angry thoughts. Taking a walk around the block and working out are two ways to ease stressful thoughts. Exercise also is a constructive way to let off steam or aggression and burn off the resulting energy.

Other anger management activities include communicating feelings and seeing the humor in a situation. Many stressful events in life have some element of humor. Imagining the most ridiculous possibilities in a situation is sometimes enough to see the humorous side.

Expressing feelings is one of the anger management activities that can be challenging. It requires being assertive without approaching others in an aggressive way. Anger in humans often is directed at people believed to be responsible for a slight or those who fail to live up to expectations. Communicating needs in a constructive way can improve relationships and resolve feelings of stress and anger.

Individual or group counseling also are anger management activities that are beneficial for some people. Realizing that others are going through the same struggles with anger often is therapeutic. Group counseling provides an opportunity to hear what techniques are working for others. Through discussions and introspection, the root causes of anger are sometimes revealed.

Anger also is connected to feelings of helplessness. Being proactive in addressing problems can help reduce anger and develop problem-solving skills. Sometimes, there is no remedy or solution for life’s disappointments. In these cases and others, understanding and learning how to cope with anger can be helpful.