Do you get mad out of nowhere? Have you ever been accused of getting angry faster than others? Have you been clinically diagnosed with an intermittent explosive disorder? Do you have trouble calming down and escalate quickly after an argument? If you answered yes to more than one of the questions above, you might have an anger problem and should get help from a psychologist or psychiatrist as soon as possible. While there are many reasons you might want to seek professional help, anger issues top the list because of the systemic damage your anger is likely doing to your life.
The good news is that a therapist and psychotherapy can work to help you learn coping skills to stay calm even at your angriest. If you or someone you love wonder if anger counseling might help and want to know more, read on.
How could therapy help me with my anger issues?
Anger management therapy has been around for years and comes in many forms. Meant to help people work on their anger issues appropriately, the right therapist can go a long way towards helping you to learn to control angry feelings and thoughts. Generally done in a combination of group and individual therapy, anger management can include a full course or class ordered by a judge or be less structured.
While many people are resistant to therapy at first, it’s been shown that anger management programs really do go a long way in teaching clients to identify their anger triggers, reduce raging tempers, stop negative or angry thoughts, and help reduce embarrassment. Techniques like teaching clients to use a “calm down kit” or do breathing exercises while managing their emotions in a healthy way are all part of what this class and therapy are about.
Does it work, and how do I get help?
Like anything, a mental health therapy session can only work so well with a resistant client. Obviously, a person who comes to therapy wanting to change and looking for help from trained psychologists and counselors will have better control over their behaviors faster than someone fighting the therapy sessions all the way. But if you or your loved one really want to change, you’ll have every tool to do so. For this reason, the best way to go into mental health treatments is with an open mind and doing your best job to be receptive to the tools and resources offered. You can start with a quick Google search for ‘best therapist near me‘ and look for psychologists who specialize in CBT and DBT programs.
Why does it matter?
The truth is, it might not matter. Whether you want to change or not is really up to you, the same way some people feel a need to get Botox where others aren’t bothered by normal signs of aging. The trouble is that anger issues or extreme sadness or depression are far more serious than saggy skin or wrinkles. In truth, aggressive behavior is likely causing you a lot of problems in your interpersonal relationships, at work, or even with the law. Most people who come to the best therapists for anger issues have already suffered the side effects of not getting counseling.
Maybe you’ve been divorced because you couldn’t control your temper. Maybe you aren’t allowed to see your kids without supervised visitation or lost your last job because you told your boss off. Whether it’s estranged relationships or loss of income or worse, if your anger is likely causing damage to your life, dreams, and goals, it’s worth it to reach out for counseling from a psychotherapist, or even a psychiatrist who can tell you the recommended dose of mental health medication. The worst thing that can happen is that counseling doesn’t help. In the best-case scenario, you’ll have the tools to return to the best version of yourself.
Again, the decision to see a psychotherapist is entirely up to you, unless ordered by a judge. It’s normal to go through the stages of change when it comes to making improvements in your life. Part of that means doubting yourself, resisting change, and even deciding you just aren’t ready. All of that is normal. So is being anxious about being judged, the fear of failure, and being unsure of yourself. The great thing is that psychotherapists or social workers who are ready to help have seen it all. They can help you work through your resistance to change as part of your anger treatment, and you could find yourself feeling better soon.